Another exhibit at LACMA, one I almost missed, is entitled ‘Sense of Time: video and film-based works of Africa.’ One work, The Masked Ball’ by Yinka Shonibare is absolutely astonishing. It is a video of people dressed for a European court dance, wearing clothing made from African tribal fabrics. Almost all of Shonibare’s works explore the relationship between Europe and Colonial states.
In a few minutes one sees dancers wearing French court clothing made with African fabrics in a scene of dance, courtship, death (maybe), murder (maybe), rebirth and escape. Sadly, the room this video is shown in is relatively small and has too much light. I found a clip of this video, ‘A Masked Ball’, on YouTube and many other of this brilliant artist’s works are there, too.
(And tomorrow, More photos from my visit to LACMA.)
