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The "Sounds of Blackness" Exhibit |
The powerful group exhibition
“Sounds of Blackness,” opened last March 14 at the Metropolitan Museum
of Manila and curated by
Larry Ossei-Mensah, brings together a diverse group of visual artists from the
African Diaspora whose practices articulate a multiplicity of ideas and
perspectives through various mediums.
Check out “Metropolitan Museum of Manila”
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The "Sounds of Blackness" Exhibit |
The exhibition, showcasing
artworks that stimulate the senses (similar to how music’s vibratory capacity
impacts its listeners), features works evoke expressions of joy, pain, beauty,
and the complexities of Black life around the globe, and highlighting a range
of styles from emerging to established artists, many of whom will be exhibiting
in the Philippines for the first time.
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Ancestral Whisper (Wahab Saheed, acrylic, charcoal, chalk and oil on pastel, 2021) |
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Draped in Color (David White, mixed velvet tiles, cotton trim, 2021) |
Running through June 27, the
exhibition includes a carefully selected set of works from the collection of
Filipino art patron and enthusiast Timothy Tan plus other pieces from private
collectors throughout Asia, offering a holistic perspective and deeper
cross-section of both art and artists. Sounds of Blackness also had a
walk through, open to the public and free of charge, with Larry Ossei-Mensah himself
last March 15, from 11 AM to 12 noon.
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Beloved Bliss - Big Black Rainbow (Vaughn Spann, polymer paint and terrycloth on canvas, 2020) |
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Forthcoming - NYC (Simphiwe Ndzube, oil on canvas and leather, 2021) |
The exhibition, inspired by
the Grammy Awards-winning and U.S.-based musical ensemble of the same name, aims
to stimulate the senses in much the same way that the vibratory capacity of
music can impact its listeners. The selection includes paintings,
sculptures, a short film on dance and other unique conceptual pieces that
pushes the limit of traditional, two-dimensional art.
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The Comedian (Nathaniel Mary Quinn, giclee printed on Hahnemuhle German ecthing, 310 gsm, 2017) |
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Susan's World (Sesse Elangwe, acrylic on canvas, 2022) |
Accompanying the exhibit is a
100-song soundscape (also called “Sounds of Blackness”), celebrating
the multiplicity of Black expression and complementing the exhibition’s goal of
reflecting and highlighting the depth and breadth of Black creativity, curated
by Carolyn “CC” Concepcion of ARTNOIR, a New-York-based global collective. Closing the loop between visual art and music, it
takes the listener on an auditory journey celebrating the multiplicity of Black
expression.
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Everything We See Hides Another Thing (Hank Willis Thomas, polished bronze, 2020) |
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Louis XVI, The Sun King (Kehinde Wiley, cast marble dust, powder resin, 2006) |
The exhibition was sponsored
by Flexiform, Poliform, Sta. Elena Construction& Development Corporation
and Ruby Jack’s Steakhouse and Bar.
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Hello Queen (Izere Antoine, acrylic on canvas, 2022) |
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Kept Awake (Patrick Eugene, oil on canvas, 2021) |
Participating Artists:
- Patrick Alston
- Izere Antoine
- Amoako Boafo
- Kim Dacres
- Delphine Desane
- Sesse Elangwe
- Patrick Eugène
- Ufuoma Essi
- Charles Gaines
- Alex Gardner
- Alteronce Gumby
- Hugh Hayden
- Rashid Johnson
- Tunji Adeniyi-Jones
- Spencer Lewis
- Hugo McCloud
- Simphiwe Ndzube
- Toyin Ojih Odutola
- Nathaniel Mary Quinn
- Wahab Saheed
- Tschabalala Self
- Vaughn Spann
- Hank Willis Thomas
- Bongani Tshabalala
- David “Mr. StarCity” White
- Kehinde Wiley
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Light on the Path II (Simphiwe Ndzube, acrylic, fabric, duct tape, resin, shoe and synthetic braids on linen, 2019) |
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Out of Body (Tschabalal Self, quilted fabric, edition of 30, 2020) |
The Ghanaian-American curator
Larry Ossei-Mensah, a native of The Bronx a cultural critic and angel investor
who uses art as a forum to redefine how we view ourselves and the world, has
organized exhibits at global venues like the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) Denver, Ben Brown Fine Arts in
Hong Kong & London, the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (MASS MoCA), and the 7th Athens Biennale in Athens,
Greece (which he co-curated with OSMK Social Club).
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Jimmy (Kim Dacres, tires, screws, paint, 2017) |
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Navient (Hugh Hayden, wooden sculpture, 2021) |
He has also organized
exhibitions and programs at commercial and nonprofit spaces featuring artists
such as Firelei Baez, Steve McQueen, Catherine Opie, Nick Cave, Guadalupe Maravilla, Ebony G. Patterson, Judy Chicago,
Stanley Whitney, to name a few. He has also collaborated on several
Web3-related projects with creative minds such as Derrick Adams x Jay-Z,
Marco Brambilla, and Mikael Owunna.
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Nomad (Toyin Ojih Odutola, charcoal, pastel and pencil on paper, 2016) |
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Untitled (Spencer Lewis, acrylic, oil, enamel and ink on jute, 2021) |
Previously the Susanne Feld
Hilberry Senior Curator at the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCAD) Detroit, he
now holds the position of Curator-at-Large at the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM)
and curated "Soul of Black Folks," the first solo museum exhibition for Ghanaian
painter Amoako Boafo, at the Museum of the African Diaspora (MoAD) in 2021, SanFrancisco, and the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston in 2022.. During the latter part of 2023, upcoming
iterations of the show will be on view at the Seattle Art Museum and Denver Art Museum.
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Rumors of War (Patrick Alston, acrylic, enamel, goache, oil, oil on stick and spray paint sewn on fabric, 2021) |
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Searching for Kirchner (Alteronce Gumby, glass on panel, 2021) |
As a co-founder of the
nonprofit ARTNOIR, he is committed to promoting racial equity in the art
world by supporting and centering creatives, curators, collectors, and
communities of color.
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Red Scarf and Red Nails (Amoako Boafo, oil on canvas, 2020) |
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Son (Hugo McCloud, plastic merchandise bags on wood panel, 2020) |
Sounds
of Blackness: 2/F, South
Gallery, Metropolitan Museum of Manila, Mariano K. Tan Centre, 30th St. cor.
9th Ave., Bonifacio
Global City, Taguig City, Metro Manila. Mobile number:: (0917) 160-9667.
E-mail: info@metmuseummanila.org. Open Tuesdays to Saturdays (except on
public holidays and other special notices). Pre-register a day before your
visit. The museum offers free admission on Tuesdays.
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