Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Les maîtres du désordre

A new exhibition at the Musée du Quai Branly presents the figures of disorder, both mythic and mortal.  Shamans and other intercessors are here dubbed "masters of disorder," responsible for negotiations with the forces of chaos.  In a constant compromise between turbulence and reason, rituals are the preferred mode of propitiation toward the powers that govern human societies.  Les maîtres du désordre presents objects, costumes and representations from major anthropological collections alongside contemporary works by Annette Messager, Jean-Michel Alberola, Thomas Hirschhorn, and others.

Visit the official website.

Ndungu mask with costume  -  Kongo, DR Congo  -  19th century
Mask depicting Chinasupay  -  Bolivia  -  Early 20th century
Mask depicting a shaman in trance with auxiliary spirits  -  Northwest Coast  -  1840–1860
Magical figure  -  Loango  -  19th century
Sourvaskar costume  -  Bulgaria  -  20th century


Information and images courtesy of the Musée du Quai Branly

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