le Gran' Maitre du Chunga
sequins, beads, glass, stones with
monofiliment on fabric
36" x 36"
(photo by Daniel Herron)
back
sequins, beads, glass, stones with
monofiliment on fabric
36" x 36"
(photo by Daniel Herron)
back
© Ron Orpitelli 2001
Of my drapeaux series, this piece most
closely adheres to the symbolic and
visual languages of the inspiration
source - Haitian Voudou banners. But
with a twist. Appropriate since those
original banners closely adhered to the
symbolic and visual languages of the
Catholic Church - but with a twist.
The prominent figure (similar to the
Virgin Mary of Catholicism and Erzulie
of Voudou) has now been transformed
into a male figure representing a
creation deity of my own making. She
is the "Goddess of Chunga" (also
known in the parlance of drag queens
as large and flashy costume jewelry),
examples of which she clutches
lovingly to her breast. Some of this
chunga comes from a dear friend who
performs in drag (and can still be seen
lurking around this piece debating
whether or not those earrings or that
broach were in fact actually stolen from
her instead of donated).
closely adheres to the symbolic and
visual languages of the inspiration
source - Haitian Voudou banners. But
with a twist. Appropriate since those
original banners closely adhered to the
symbolic and visual languages of the
Catholic Church - but with a twist.
The prominent figure (similar to the
Virgin Mary of Catholicism and Erzulie
of Voudou) has now been transformed
into a male figure representing a
creation deity of my own making. She
is the "Goddess of Chunga" (also
known in the parlance of drag queens
as large and flashy costume jewelry),
examples of which she clutches
lovingly to her breast. Some of this
chunga comes from a dear friend who
performs in drag (and can still be seen
lurking around this piece debating
whether or not those earrings or that
broach were in fact actually stolen from
her instead of donated).