Masquerade

Albany-based photographer and professor Phyllis Galembo is fascinated with masks and costumes. She has spent twenty years documenting rituals and religious in Nigeria, Brazil, Cuba, Jamaica and Haiti as well as Hallowe'en costumes at home. Thinking about Hallowe'en today, I'll share some of her photos of other sorts of 'ritual adornment'. Why is it that almost all people, have masks and costumes, and that these have ritual and meaning? Are we scared of things which go bump in the night, or do we want a turn playing their role, assuming their power?


Phyllis Galembo, OtogheToghe, Aromgba Village, Nigeria, 2005, Ilfochrome, 50 x 50 inches


Phyllis Galembo, Ekpodo masquerade dance, Christmas dance, Alok Village, Cross River, Nigeria, 2004


Phyllis Galembo, Baby Dance of Etikpe, Cross River, Nigeria, 2004


Phyllis Galembo, Zambia, 2007


Phyllis Galembo, Zambia, 2007


Phyllis Galembo, Zambia, 2007


Phyllis Galembo, Zambia, 2007


Phyllis Galembo, Akata Dance Masqueraders, Ogoja, Nigeria, 2004, Ilfochrome, 30 x 30 inches


Phyllis Galembo, Gelede Masquerade, Agonli-Houegbo Village, Benin, 2006, Ilfochrome, 30 x 30 inches


Phyllis Galembo, Masquerade from Gossina Village, Burkina Faso, 2006, Ilfochrome, 30 x 30 inches

Her portfolios are extensive. Do yourself a favour and go peruse them (via Le Divan Fumoir Bohémien).

German photographer Thorsten Brinkmann sort of does the converse. Rather than travelling the world, documenting the ritual adornment of its multifarious cultures, he takes photos of himself, adorned ritually in everyday objects - to much the same effect.


Thorsten Brinkmann, „Reginald von Eckhelm“, 2010 © Thorsten Brinkmann,


Thorsten Brinkmann: "Venus del Whitespitz", 2008. C-Print, Edition 5 + 2 AP, 125 x 170 cm


Thorsten Brinkmann: "Inuk N unavut", 2006. C-Print, Edition 3 + 2 A, 115 x 154 cm


Thorsten Brinkmann: "Conde du Mütz", 2008. C-Print, Edition 5 + 2 AP 83 x 62 cm


Thorsten Brinkmann: "Karl Schrank von Gaul", 2008. C-Print, Edition 5 + 2 AP, 170 x 120 cm

(via TeenAngster)

My own interest in masks is celebrated today, in the spirit of Hallowe'en, by the latest in the rikrak studio's The Collectors series

Heads or Tails?

In time for Hallowe'en, I thought I'd bring you some illustrated mask-wearing personages, and dismembered body parts. Vancouver-based artist and illustrator Andrew Pommier draws and paints men who are ready for the worst. The may be wearing masks, or animal heads, dealing with ferocious pandas, or turning into trees, or be slouching through life carrying skulls.


"Hanging with the Gang" oil on wood 20" x 14" 2008


"Ready for the Worst" acrylic and graphite on wood 24" x 36" 2007


"Coming Upon a Scene of Carnage" acrylic and graphite on wood 20" x 24" 2008


"Fan Boy" oil on wood 20" x 24" December 2008


"Souvenirs from the Voyage" acrylic and graphite on wood 20" x 24" 2008


"Dinosaur Head" watercolour, ink, and graphite on paper 8.5" x 11" 2007


"Rabbit Head" watercolour, ink, and graphite on paper 8.5" x 11" 2006

Riding the Dodo and the Folk-Singing Wolf

Check out the illustrations of Melburn Australia's Genna Campton. She plays with scale, includes animals, fashion illustration, a hint of surreality and references Bob Dylan - what's not to love?


dodo races (2009)


chincilla (2009)


rooster greenstripes (2009)


peacock (2009)


wolf dylan (2009)

Find her site, blog and etsy shop at these links.

(via frankie magazine)

Astronomical Fashion

If you can't get your astronomy fix from the NASA image archives, wear it on your sleeve, or corps, or legs... Is it just me, or has fashion gone cosmic?

Consider moon-prints at Risto:




2011 Spring New York Fashion Week: Risto (via fashionologie via I'M REVOLTING)

A simple Baggu Constellation bag (more my budget):

(via Creature Comforts)

A giant dwarf Starlet Crown:

via whorange

Nebulae and stars on Christopher Kane resort ware:

(via Tavi at Style Rookie, who also has a whole post about nebula Risto shorts)