Hales Gallery is pleased to announce the opening of international exhibiton EN MAS’: Carnival and Performance Art of the Caribbean at the Museum of the African Diaspora on 20 September, 2017. This exhibition features an installation documenting Hew Locke's 2014 performance Give and Take.
The international travelling exhibition EN MAS': Carnival and Performance Art of the Caribbean, curated by Claire Tancons and Krista Thompson, is a pioneering exploration of the influences of Carnival on contemporary performance practices in the Caribbean, North America, and Europe. Conceived around a series of commissioned performances across six different countries, the exhibition considers the connections between Carnival and performance, masquerade and social criticism, diaspora and transnationalism. Its title comes from a pun on “Mas” (short for masquerade and synonymous with carnival in the English speaking Caribbean).
EN MAS’ takes a look at the history of performance that does not take place on the stage or in the gallery, but rather in the streets, addressing not the few but the many. The exhibition introduces performance art with a focus on the influence that Carnival and related masquerading traditions in and of the Caribbean and its Diasporas have had on contemporary performance discourse and practice, in both the artistic and curatorial realms.
“Carnival has a long history in our islands and we are excited to host EN MAS’ as the first venue on its regional tour. The nine artists featured in the exhibition have created a series of contemporary performances that draw on the tradition of carnival as a vehicle for social commentary, while bringing contemporary performance practice into the wider public arena. We hope the exhibition will be well received by our diverse audiences and that it will encourage dialogue about the role that carnival can play in contemporary Caymanian art practice.” says Natalie Urquhart, NGCI Director.
Featured artists include: John Beadle (Bahamas), Charles Campbell (Jamiaca), Christophe Chassol (France), Nicolás Dumit Estévez (Dominican Republic and USA), Marlon Griffith (Trinidad), Hew Locke (UK), Lorraine O’Grady (USA), Ebony G. Patterson (Jamaica), and Cauleen Smith (USA).
Hew Locke
EN MAS': Carnival and Performance Art of the Caribbean
Museum of the African Diaspora (MoAD)
685 Mission Street
San Francisco
CA 94105
USA
20 September 2017 - 04 March 2018
October 27, 2017
