VMFA Circle Lecture Series
Thu, Jun 27, 6 pm
Dynamism and Multisensory Experience in Contemporary West African Masquerade
with Dr. Lisa Homann, Assistant Professor of Art History, UNC Charlotte
Based on extensive research in Burkina Faso, this talk will offer an overview of contemporary masquerade practices, addressing the question, “What is masquerade?” While we might be accustomed to understanding African masks as wood headpieces displayed on walls in museums and private collections, Dr. Homann demonstrates that masks are more than objects to be looked at. Rather, mask headpieces are just one element of the dynamic and multisensory experience of masquerade. Her presentation will include photographs, videos, and eyewitness accounts of spectacular recent mask performances.
The VMFA Circle Lecture Series is open to all members beginning at the Friends Circle level.
IMAGE Kièlè Pene mask dancing, Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso, 2015. Photo credit: Lisa Homann.
