How stilt-walking carnival sculptures at the British Museum reclaim African ancestry for the future
In short: Artist Zak Ové transforms the tradition of the Moko Jumbie into towering sculptures, bridging African mythology with contemporary defiance. By blending ancestral stories of resistance with modern materials, Ové explores how masquerade and costume offer a profound sense of emancipation, allowing individuals to transcend their everyday selves through the power of play.
Zak Ové, born in 1966, creates work that navigates the intersection of sculpture, film, and photography. His practice is deeply rooted in his dual upbringing in London and Trinidad, where he witnessed the evolution of carnival as a multicultural phenomenon. Ové’s interest in the subject is personal; his father was a pioneering black filmmaker who documented the diverse global roots of carnival, tracing its influences back to Africa, India, Spain, and across Europe. This rich heritage informs Ové's artistic mission: to revitalize ancient mythologies for a new millennium.
The Moko Jumbie figures featured at the British Museum are central to this exploration. These characters are not merely aesthetic; they are steeped in African mythology and histories of slave resistance. Ové views the act of masquerade as a revolutionary form of defiance. By donning a costume, the wearer undergoes a transformation, shedding the constraints of a colonized situation to achieve a liberated state of being. Ové describes this as an 'other self,' a manifestation of personal freedom that demonstrates how play can dismantle the boundaries of the contained self.
The collaboration with the British Museum was facilitated by curator Chris Spring, who sought out Ové due to his deep expertise in Trinidad Carnival. Ové’s connection to the tradition is familial and historical; his grandparents operated a hardware store in Port of Spain that dates back to the late 1800s. This shop served as a vital resource for Obeah practitioners, providing materials that were integral to local cultural and spiritual practices. Ové’s work continues this legacy, aiming to take the weight of African ancestry and reshape it into a vibrant, forward-looking vision for Africa’s tomorrow, ensuring these traditions remain dynamic and relevant.
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