I've had photographer Phyllis Galembo's masquerade series bookmarked for a while now. Every time I come back to it I am astonished by how beautiful and mysterious and powerful these images are - I feel transported a place where something magical is about to occur. I just read that Galembo has a new book out called Maske, which explores the transformative powers of masks and masquerades in the African diaspora (her travels include west and central Africa and Haiti). Galembo illustrates how her subjects use costume, body paint and masks to transform themselves into deities, ancestors and prominent cultural and political figures - the effect of which is as dark and satirical as it is playful.
See more about Phyllis Galembo's work here. For those of you who are in New York, Galembo is having a book signing and launch party on October 16, 2010, 5-7 pm at Steven Kasher Gallery, 521 West 23rd Street. Wish I could be there.
All photographs by Phyllis Galembo.
