Immediately following the death of her older sister, Devonia Evangeline, Lorraine O’Grady traveled to Egypt 1962 where she developed an interest in Egyptology and discovered a distinctive resemblance between herself and the citizens of Cairo. Ruminating with inspiration from her trip, and unsettled emotions from the loss of her sister, O’Grady choreographed her second performance, Nefertiti/Devonia Evangeline. Performed in 1980 at Just Above Midtown Gallery (JAM), these images document the artist’s ritual reconciliation with her deceased sister. Pre-recorded incantations from the Egyptian’s Book of the Dead––in O’Grady’s own voice––accompanied the artist’s movements while juxtaposed images of Queen Nefertiti and Devonia Evangeline were projected in the background.
14 years later, in 1994, Lorraine O’Grady revisited the image projections to create the photo installation Miscegenated Family Album.
Posted by Jenée-Daria Strand Lorraine O’Grady (American, born 1934). Nefertiti/Devonia Evangeline, 1980–1988. Photo-doc 06: “The voice on the tape says: 'Mount and straddle tubs of sand, which are now touching... face audience” and ⇨ Photo-doc 01: “Told to swing an incense censer, she stirs sand instead” Courtesy the artist and Alexander Gray Associates, New York. © Lorraine O’Grady/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York. (Photo: Freida Leinwand) ⇨ Lorraine O'Grady (American, born 1934). Miscegenated Family Album (Sisters I), L: Nerfnefruaten Nefertiti; R: Devonia Evageline O’Grady, 1980/1994. Cibachrome photographs. Edition of 8 + 1 AP. Courtesy Alexander Gray Associates, New York. © Lorraine O’Grady/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York.