Jul 9, 2025
female figure with child, Kongo art (late 19th to early 20th century)
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female figure with child, Kongo art (late 19th to early 20th century)
female figure with child, Kongo art (late 19th to early 20th century)
female figure with child, Kongo art (late 19th to early 20th century)
Subversive strategies of Kongo artists showcased in new blockbuster at Metropolitan Museum of Art
The dazzling show “Kongo: Majesty and Power” that opens today at the Met features five centuries of treasures, from geometric raffia textiles and intricate ivory carvings sent to Europe’s princely collections during the Age of Exploration, to the fearsome Mangaaka power figures created in the 19th century. In my interview with curator Alisa LaGamma in today’s Wall Street Journal, she recounts her efforts to connect these objects to specific moments in history, revealing them as articulate, and sometimes subversive, responses to political and religious changes.
Nick Cave, Sound Suit
"One of the most amazing things about the sound suits is their material. Nick Cave forages for everyday objects like potholders, twigs, sequins, second-hand clothes, and dyed human hair for future use. Inspired by African ceremonial garb, Tibetan patterns, and global pop culture, he constructs the elaborate sculptures using his castaway mediums."