Paris, 8 December 2011
The Dapper museum in Paris is currently presenting the exhibition, “Mascarades et Carnavals”, until 15 July 2012. For the first time, the Parisian museum has gathered traditional Sub-Saharan African works and Caribbean creations, portraying the existing echo between African masquerades and Caribbean carnivals. This exhibition is organised by curator Christiane Falgayrettes-Leveau, director and co-founder of the Dapper foundation, with the help of anthropologist Michel Agier and author Marie-Denise Grangenois.
Following Claude Levi-Strauss’ theory in the work Triste optiques, the ceremonies are treated as rituals and collective experiences creating a unity in Primitive societies. Carnival creations have become relevant tools of mediation and allow the understanding of the multiple issues of masquerades. This includes King Vayal, through “Pwofitasyon” by artist Hervé Beuze, a monumental work created as if it were an installation. This figure is considered the most important in the carnival, originally created as a caricature of politics.
This exhibition offers the opportunity to explore works by Zak, who presents the carnival as his preferred subject. The photographer, of Trinidadian origin, evokes the original leading figures of the carnival from the island of Trinidad, including capturing imaginary figures from the fantasy world.