Artland
In my essay for Artland, I covered the Andrea Festa Fine Art Gallery presentation of Emmanuel Massillon and Darin Cooper’s works. Entitled "Outer Body Experiences," the Paris exhibition ran in 2022, offering patrons an immersive encounter with the dynamic expressions of two emerging talents in American folk art.
Through a harmonious blend of sculpture and painting, the artists intricately dissect intercultural dialogues within Black spaces, addressing systemic issues like gentrification, over-policing, and the maintenance of food deserts with larger reference to African-American material heritage.
Cooper employs a mix of printmaking, collage, and acrylic painting to evoke spiritual release and historical legacies, while Massillon infuses found objects like bullet shells and sand with brass instruments and wooden masks, reimagining contemporary symbols in African American culture with a touch of playful symbolism.
Outer Body Experiences