summary:
Photographer Selim Harbi spent 9 months in West Africa studying the history of masks and left with interesting results. He met and spoke with many people all over the region with vastly different backgrounds. He then photographed 20 people wearing a mask which corresponded to their personality, career, or status. Through this project, he hopes to break the post-colonial image of Africa many people have and prove that the cultures "aren't a mask that you can just put in your house as a decoration."
analysis:
I love the idea behind Harbi's project. Reading the short descriptions of people and how they relate to each individual mask is so interesting. The project also highlights the contrast in historical traditions involving the masks and modern lifestyles. It seems like a variation of the Ashcan school's thoughts of exposing cultures and reality of America's poorer neighborhoods. Similarily, Harbi wanted to show the depth of cultures in today's West Africa.
http://www.cnn.com/2016/02/14/travel/cnnphotos-behind-the-masks-west-africa/index.html
Brenna Hale(6th Period)
ReplyDeleteI would have never thought about studying the masks of cultures in African tribes, he's doing a wonderful deed through a meaningful way.
This is an interesting view of something people don't consider when purchasing or displaying decorative masks. I enjoy his amount of respect he has for them.
ReplyDeleteBob Cummins, Period 6