
The Guyana Cultural Association (GCA) of New York, Inc. and Guyana’s Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports will this month organise and host a symposium in Guyana aimed at preserving the legacy of the masquerade art form in the country.
The symposium “Masquerade Lives”, scheduled for December 13 and 14, would serve as stimulation in the context of the Mashramani celebrations for February, 2013.
“Masquerade Lives” is intended to create a space for public education, and to examine the deep heritage associated with Guyana’s masquerade traditions. Special attention would be paid to the origins of the art form, its historical and international connections and the reasons for its decline. Sessions would also focus on masquerade’s aesthetic dimensions, including costumes, dances, music and the performances.
One of the events of the symposium would be the unveiling of a masquerade mural on the lawns of the National Museum. This was conceptualised to pay tribute to and celebrate, Guyana’s masquerade heritage.
According to GCA, “the proposed imagery for the mural is colourful and bold; the deliberate painterly approach will contribute to its boldness, and the overall finish will not be constrained by naturalism and realism.” GCA noted that this approach is deliberate and intended to pay homage to the rousing origins of masquerade in Guyana and the Caribbean. The mural is an archetypal reminder of our rich cultural heritage.
The association pointed out that the painting of the mural would contribute to a weeklong synergy of the creative arts in Guyana.
