Tag Archives: transformation

Revolutionary Slave Masquerader from Haiti, photograph by Phyllis Galembo — from Maske

by Christopher Agostino

I want to post just one more of the exceptional photographs by Phyllis Galembo from her book Maske, found in the article in National Geographic Magazine, April 2012. See the online article and her website for more.

 

 

“The tools of modern revolutions, a gun and a phone, are held by a masked youth. Other parts of his hellish carnival attire connect to Haiti’s past. To symbolize the suffering of slaves, he’s wrapped in a rope, his skin is glazed in charcoal and molasses—an inexpensive, easy-to-make masquerade worn since colonial times.” – from the text in the article by Cathy Newman. Charcoal and molasses!

These photographs are compelling not only for the quality of the mask and costumes, but also for the way Galembo photographs the masqueraders. There is a sense of presence to the mask and costumes in these photographs different than what you get looking at a photograph of a masquerader in motion, such as dancing or participating in the ceremony the mask is meant for—and certainly the images are much more powerful than the standard textbook shot of the mask just hanging on a wall. Her photographs focus so completely on the new being created by the mask and costume, and that is what I am responding to as I admire them.

She travels to these places and “puts her ear to the ground in search of masquerade ceremonies.” To photograph the outfits she has the masquerader pose themself however they choose, in front of a wall or such as a backdrop, and shoots just 12 photos. “‘Either I have it, or I don’t,’ she says.”

see the previous post about her work:

Three Boys from Haiti Become Pa Wowo — the Body Painting Photo of the Year

See my fine art bodypainting at  https://thestorybehindthefaces.com/body-painting/

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Three Boys from Haiti Become Pa Wowo — the Body Painting Photo of the Year

by Christopher Agostino

I know it’s only March, but I think I’m ready to declare this the best body painting photo I am going to see this year. Photographed by Phyllis Galembo, for her book Maske. I saw it in an article in the April 2012 National Geographic Magazine, along with ten others from the more than one hundred photos in her book of masqueraders from Africa and the African Diaspora.

 

 

“Not all masquerades require masks, or occur in Africa. In the Haitian port city of Jacmel three boys become Pa Wowo—painted, coconut-leaf-skirted peasants who personify poverty—for the spring carnival.” —from the accompanying text by Cathy Newman.

This is the true art of transformation—body art and masks used to make a social statement within a cultural context—this is true art, in the original social function for why there is art, before art became a means of decoration and personal expression in a Western context. Nothing I’ve ever painted for a competition, demonstration or in the studio holds a candle to the real thing like this.

See my fine art bodypainting at  https://thestorybehindthefaces.com/body-painting/

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Gallery ML, Philadelphia – April 6 Grand Opening of their New Location

(I received this announcement, which I am re-posting:)
GALLERY ML ANNOUNCES GRAND OPENING EVENT
NEW LOCATION, 111 ARCH STREET, PHILADELPHIA

“The pieces are awe-inspiring, kinetic and truly indescribable. Gallery ML is a place you’ve got to see to believe…” – Philadelphia Weekly

On Friday April 6th, Gallery ML, the world’s first and only collective body art gallery will open the doors to its brand new location with a very special, public First Friday reception.

Known for their over-the-top, unique and immersive First Friday events, the centerpiece of the evening will be dynamic live painting by guest artists Lawren Alice (2011 National RAW Visual Artist Of The Year), Scott Fray & Madelyn Greco of Living Brush (current Bodypainting World Champions), Nix Herrera (Face/Off Season 2), Roustan (Current North American Bodypainting Airbrush Champion), Natasha Kudashkina (2nd Place brush and sponge winner, North American Bodypainting Championship) and more.

The reception will also mark the opening of Central + Remote, 20 days spent in Nicaragua, an exhibition of new work by Philadelphia photographer Eric Ashleigh. With no schedule, and no plans, these pictures display the reality of a troubled culture, and his perception of the beauty the land presented as a dream.

The Grand Opening celebrates Gallery ML’s relocation to 111 Arch Street in Old City, Philadelphia. Boasting nearly four times the wall space of their previous location, the new Gallery ML is conveniently just a block away from the original Market Street gallery and will also house a full photography studio and giclee print lab.

It is Gallery ML’s mission to nurture, promote and celebrate the beautiful fine art side of bodypainting. Through our unique Artist Membership Program, bodypainters from around the world now have a physical destination and opportunity to submit their most original, imaginative representations of body art imagery to display in a respectable gallery setting. Rather than choosing to display cheap, over-sexualized images of body painting that degrade, demoralize and pervert the human figure, Gallery ML’s walls are adorned with art that is incredibly inspirational, unobtrusive and celebratory of the human body as a canvas. Established in April of 2010 and only one of two galleries in the world that has completely dedicated their walls to displaying body painting, Gallery ML is certainly unlike any gallery you’ve seen before.
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