Nationality: Haiti

Yves Telemak is one of Haiti's best known maker of drapo, the ceremonial flags used at the opening of a Voodou rituals. Often decorated in sequins, the banners represent separate dieties of the voodou religion. Many appear to use Christian symbols or depict Christian saints taken from Catholic chromolithographs that were borrowed for their counterpart Voodou deity (for instance the snake-like god, Dambalah Wouedo, the god of birth, is usually depicted as an image of St Patrick casting out the snakes from Ireland).

Telemak, the son of a notable Voodou priest, trained at the studio of Joseph 'Bos To' Fortine before beginning to make flags for himself. He soon developed the distinctive designs with strong, geometric borders that have made his work so well known. Telemak's flags are unusual in that he signs his work and though they follow the traditions of Voudou subject-matter, his work is no longer used ritually though increasingly it is being shown in museums and art galleries around the world. Further information on Voudou drapo and Yves Telemak can be found in 'Haitian Vodou Flags' by Patrick Arthur Polk, University Press of Misissippi.