The Invisible Man and the Masque of Blackness

Exhibition Website

Jul 27 2019 - Nov 3 2019

Zak Ové (born 1966) is a British visual artist of Trinidadian descent. His sculptural installation, The Invisible Man and the Masque of Blackness, encapsulates the complex history of racial objectification and the evolution of black subjectivity. 

The title’s references—Ben Jonson’s 1605 play, The Masque of Blackness, and Ralph Ellison’s 1952 novel, Invisible Man—mark two milestones in black history: the first stage production to utilize blackface makeup, and the first novel by an African American to win the National Book Award. 

In addition to literary references, the artist draws inspiration from Caribbean Carnival, a festival that originated from the Mardi Gras celebrations of the region’s French colonists, and Canboulay, a parallel celebration in which enslaved people expressed themselves through music and costume and paid homage to their African traditions. 

The installation’s 40 graphite figures stand tall and dignified to represent the strength and resilience of the African diaspora.​

Credit: Exhibition overview from museum website

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