Skip to main content Smithsonian Institution

Catalog Data

Maker:
James Webb, born 1975, South Africa  Search this
Medium:
Chewa mask, steel base, speaker, audio
Dimensions:
H x W x D (Mask): 26.7 × 17.5 × 14.6 cm (10 1/2 × 6 7/8 × 5 3/4 in.)
H x W x D (Stand): 64.8 × 13 × 10.2 cm (25 1/2 × 5 1/8 × 4 in.)
Duration: approx 30 min
Type:
Time Based Media
Geography:
South Africa
Date:
2021
Description:
Chewa mask face mask with cloth neck cover of a male with black hair, mustache and pinkish skin. The mask is intended to portray American singer, Elvis Presley, and has a painted black pompadour and skinny black moustache. The mask’s skin is pinkish beige and its ear protrude. The eyes slant downward, its nose is straight and its full-lipped mouth slightly open. The mask still has its cloth neck cloth attached. It is displayed mounted on a pedestal which conceals an audio player. The soundtrack consists of a series of questions played via a speaker, installed above where the audience would be situated, with a thirty-nine minute time loop. After each question there is a pause, allowing time as if for the object to reply.
Content Statement:
As part of our commitment to accessibility and transparency, the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art is placing its collection records online. Please note that some records are incomplete (missing image or content descriptions) and others reflect out-of-date language or systems of thought regarding how to engage with and discuss cultural heritage and the specifics of individual artworks. If you see content requiring immediate action, we will do our best to address it in a timely manner. Please email nmafacuratorial@si.edu if you have any questions.
Image Requests:
High resolution digital images are not available for some objects. For publication quality photography and permissions, please contact the Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives at https://africa.si.edu/research/eliot-elisofon-photographic-archives/
Topic:
male  Search this
mask  Search this
Credit Line:
Museum purchase
Object number:
2021-13-1
Restrictions & Rights:
Usage conditions apply
See more items in:
National Museum of African Art Collection
Data Source:
National Museum of African Art
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ys73864f8fb-dbeb-4e4a-9988-b7090b759779
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:nmafa_2021-13-1