As part of an artistic and cultural exploration the Photography exhibition Pawòl a Mas (Mas Time Voices) initiated by the group Mas 2.0, invites the public to dive into the very essence of Carnival, in Guadeloupe and beyond.

As a highly symbolic stage and a must-see in the calendar of Caribbean people, Carnival transcends geographical boundaries to become a true language, a demonstration of the collective voice, traditions, and Caribbean identities.

This exhibition aims to celebrate the richness and diversity of carnival expressions, through the prism of voice – whether sung, musical, or even embodied by costumes and bodily movements. Within this energy, both festive and spiritual, each member becomes a storyteller, an actor, or even the note of a collective bouladjel.*

Traditional songs mixed with more contemporary ones, rhythmic cadences, the strength and spiritual essence of the costumes, the cohesion of bodies…all intertwine to create an immersive experience resonating well beyond the borders of Guadeloupe’s archipelago. We see Guadeloupe not just as a starting point, but as a crossroad of cultural exchange fostering dialogue with other spaces – physical, geographical or imaginary – within the Caribbean.

Each Carnival, with its own codes and unique language – whether in the sounds, the choreographies or costume design – echoes the organic nature of a living ecosystem. Our aim is to present this cultural mosaic by highlighting the artistic productions of emerging and established photographers from the region, capturing their perspectives on this ritualized moment of trance, transformation, metamorphosis and alterity.

The object which is made, like a foundational artifact, plays a key role in the mechanism of Carnival. It awakens the senses and allows entry into this phase of performativity. By associating an immersive sound atmosphere, we seek to recreate the environment in which the carnival spirit thrives. In doing so, we invite the public to feel the pulsating environment of the Carnival, recreated in the public space (Pointe a Pitre, downtown Guadeloupe).

It is essential to remember that Carnival is above all a human story, that of a community, a family united by the same passion. In each group, every member brings a voice, a body, an instrument that finds its place in the collective harmony. We hope that this exhibition may be read as an allegory of Guadeloupe – an example of diversity, plurality and heterogeneity, reflecting the wealth of our Caribbean region, thus ultimately transcending our point of departure: the island-s of Guadeloupe.

It is in this spirit of collaboration that we have thought about the curatorial direction of this exhibition, bringing together creative visions through collective reflection.
Collective intelligence of the group and of the community, proves itself time and time again to be our strength. We hope to provide an immersive, sensorially enriching and thoughtful experience that honors the “voice of the Mas” and all the voices that amplify it.

Def. bouladjel: (Origin: Guadeloupe) Musical percussion technique involving several voices, onomatopoeias, rhythmic breathing, simultaneously accompanied by the clapping of hands.