Àṣẹ, àṣẹ, àṣẹ. With prayers to the ancestors and the pouring of libations, spir

Àṣẹ, àṣẹ, àṣẹ. With prayers to the ancestors and the pouring of libations, spiritual power was brought into the galleries of the Brooklyn Museum this morning, marking the opening of the exhibition One: Egúngún.Every work of art has a biography—how it was made, the places it’s been, the people it’s touched. There is much to learn from the histories told by the folds of cloth, or by the stories of elders. Focusing on a highlight from the Brooklyn Museum’s renowned collection of historical African arts, One: Egúngún tells the life story of a singular early twentieth-century Yorùbá masquerade costume (egúngún).Using new research and multiple perspectives, the presentation emphasizes the global connections and contemporary contexts of African masquerades. Made during the early twentieth century in southwestern Nigeria, this egúngún is composed of over three hundred different textiles from Africa, Europe, and Asia, which swirl in motion during festival dances honoring departed ancestors. Also on view are four distinctive West African textiles and garments that demonstrate the role of cloth in Yorùbá belief and aesthetics. The presentation in the gallery is accompanied by photographs and footage of Yorùbá masquerade festivals; related textiles; and an hour-long documentary of filmed interviews with Nigerian scholars, contemporary artists, and masquerade practitioners.Throughout the next few months, posts on the Museum’s social media channels marked #OneEgúngún will offer a multi-faceted look at the exhibition. Authored by a variety of voices both in and outside the museum, they’ll focus on a few different themes: egúngún; Yorùbá cultural and aesthetic practices; and a behind-the-scenes look at the work in the U.S. and in Nigeria that went into the making of this exhibition.We are honored to celebrate the life story of this singular mask, and thank and acknowledge the Lekewọgbẹ family of Ògbómọ̀ṣọ́–the makers of this egúngún–for their support. This exhibition honors their family name and masquerade heritage.Posted by Kristen Windmuller-Luna Yorùbá artist. Egúngún Masquerade Dance Costume (paka egúngún), circa 1920–48. Lekewọgbẹ compound, Ògbómọ̀ṣọ́, Ọ̀yọ́ State, Nigeria. Cotton, wool, wood, silk, synthetic textiles (including viscose rayon and acetate), indigo dye, and aluminum. Brooklyn Museum; Gift of Sam Hilu, 1998.125  -- source link

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