MOUNT FOURÉ
The inhabitants of the pine forest: a space-time suspended between Heaven and Earth.
ALL PHOTOGRAPHS AND TEXTS BY JOSUÉ AZOR
Forêt-des-Pins (Pine Forest) is a forest in (Fonds-Verrettes) southeastern Haiti and represents one of the rare wooded areas in the country, with its forest cover accounting for about two percent of the territory. This forest predominantly consists of conifers, and it takes more than six hours by all-terrain car to reach it from the capital, Port-au-Prince.
In 2016, I embarked on three journeys to this unique location. During my visits, I found myself in ideal conditions to capture photographs of landscapes that were truly atypical, including moonrises, dawns with billowing clouds, bustling market scenes, and hardworking farmers. Once these images were captured, I had the opportunity to focus on portraiture.
In my exploration, I made an effort to be respectful and transparent about my intentions. In return, I received invaluable insights from the people I met. To express my gratitude, I returned to the site and presented printed photographs to each person who appeared in my portraits, a gesture that was warmly appreciated.
This series took me from the heart of the forest to its people, the Moun Forè, who have a distinct charm and appearance that I hadn't encountered anywhere else.
The organization of space fascinated me, especially how people ingeniously utilized natural elements at their disposal. Stones were employed to delineate spaces and served as supports for temporary market displays, where merchants showcased their products. Architecture here is unique, characterized by straw and wooden houses known as "zèl atè," designed to offer shelter during storms without the fear of roofs collapsing.
I also pondered extensively over the title "Moun Forè." In Haiti, the term "Nèg mòn" which means mountain men, is commonly used to refer to people from rural areas or the countryside, often with a pejorative connotation. However, I believe that this term should not carry negative connotations, as it simply describes a particular situation, one that I readily accept.
Living in the Pine Forest, despite the striking landscapes and temperate climate, presents its challenges, including precarious access to water and electricity, poor and winding roads, and limited and uncomfortable public transportation. Yet, the Moun Forè remain resilient and resourceful, creating living spaces that, while simple, are functional and inspiring.
Despite the marked differences from my own urban reality, I resisted the temptation to portray them through a lens of nostalgia or freeze them in an artificial past.
