carwan gallery presents autopsy by carlo + mary lynn massoud at the armory show NY

carwan gallery presents autopsy by carlo + mary-lynn massoud at the armory show NY
(above) ‘autopsy’ by carlo & mary-lynn massoud
all images courtesy of carwan gallery

carwan gallery presents newly commissioned work from carlo and mary-lynn massoud at the armory show in new york. ‘autopsy’ is the first collaboration between siblings mary-lynn massoud (ceramist) and carlo massoud (product designer). the project has been entirely produced in cape town by bronze age and imiso. curated by maria cristina didero, autopsy explores the fragility of life and references south african traditional fertility dolls.

autopsy #1 by carlo & mary-lynn massoud

these dolls across the continent are created for young girls to play with and as a charm to ensure fertility in women. their shape and costume vary according to region and custom. frequently dolls are handed down from mother to daughter. the dolls are often dressed with traditional garb. when the doll concept is considered in the context of african culture, they are usually not children’s playthings, but rather objects that are laden with ritual and religious associations within the community. african dolls are used to teach and entertain. they are supernatural intermediaries and they are manipulated for ritual purposes. each of these dolls is unique because they are handmade and are traditionally handed down through generations.

autopsy #2 by carlo & mary-lynn massoud

after an investigation on the use and history of the dolls in the region, the massouds wanted to highlight the different rituals between the tribes and how each tribe symbolizes the protection of the female egg. the project explores the concept of fertility, symbolized by wounds and scars on the surface of the organic objects. like ethnographic surgeons, the massouds dissect the rough geometries to unveil certain details through these wounds. the siblings then integrate the ritual of ornamentation with the use of locally produced materials like bronze and ceramic. this innovative representation of the dolls, brought to a larger scale, brings a new way to express these rituals, in a domestic environment.

autopsy #3 by carlo & mary-lynn massoud

the collection is composed of a series of six unique stools/tables editions, realized in cast bronze with bespoke colored oxidations and ceramic. in the same occasion, carwan will unveil selected works by carlo massoud including ‘capture’, a series of different types of construction machines, made of lacquered brushed brass as well as a lighting fixture made of green onyx and brushed brass lacquered inspire by the fast evolution of middle eastern cities.

autopsy #4 by carlo & mary-lynn massoud

autopsy #5 by carlo & mary-lynn massoud

autopsy #6 by carlo & mary-lynn massoud

carlo & mary-lynn portrait
image © filippo bamberghi

capture by carlo massoud 

capture AD01 by carlo massoud

capture AD03 by carlo massoud

capture AD02 by carlo massoud

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.