Yinka Shonibare MBE: Un Ballo in Maschera - Special live performance by Chop and Quench

Well known for his exploration of colonialism and globalization through various media types, the films of visual artist Yinka Shonibare will be presented in conjunction with Chop and Quench “The Fela! Band” for a night not to be missed. Leading the evening will be a conversation discussing the alliance of visual art and music moderated by Dr. Christa Clarke, Senior Curator of Arts of Global Africa at Newark Museum, followed by a viewing of Shonibare’s Un Ballo in Maschera, and a culminating live musical performance from Chop and Quench! Shonibare’s work explores issues of colonialism alongside those of race and class, through the media of painting, sculpture, photography, film and performance. Using this wide range of media, Shonibare examines the construction of identity and tangled interrelationship between Africa and Europe and their respective economic and political histories. Mixing Western art history and literature, he asks what constitutes our collective contemporary identity today. Chop and Quench is composed of members of the cast and band of the musical Fela!. Individually, the musicians are some of the finest in New York. Lead singer Sahr Ngaujah was nominated for a Tony Award for his performance in the Broadway show and has been featured on film and television. Known for their straightforward performances of classic Fela Kuti compositions, they have branched out, bringing their own original music to the stage. Wednesday, April 29 at 7:30 David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center, Frieda and Roy Furman Stage Entrance free 7:30 – Conversation with Dr. Christa Clarke, Senior Curator of Arts of Global Africa at Newark Museum , Dr. Rich Blint, Associate Director, Office of Community Outreach and Education at Columbia University School of the Arts, Oneika Phillips and Greg Gonzalez of Chop and Quench 8:00 – Screening of Un Ballo in Maschera by Yinka Shonibare 8:30 – Live Performance by Chop and Quench http://atrium.lincolncenter.org/2015/yinka-shonibare.html