Cimarron: Freedom and Masquerade
“Cimarron: Freedom and Masquerade delivers on multiple levels. The underlying historic theme lends gravity to the wonderfully eccentric images.”
Charles Freger’s Cimarron: Freedom and Masquerade is a new genre of photographic portraiture that unites the past and the present in a lively parade of staged imagery.
Freger’s work pays tribute to ethnic populations that have struggled throughout history to preserve their cultural identities. His subjects appear in creative carnival costumes that reference symbols and themes with historic significance such as: resistance to the mainstream culture, impersonation of the devil, adoration of saints, hybrid creatures brandishing whips to ward off evil spirits or serving as the devil’s instrument, bodies painted bright heralding their colorful history, or bodies painted dark in tribute to African roots.
“In the Americas, the carnival is one of the spaces in which historic and current hybridizations and tensions between cultures are most evident. One can also see the effects of cultural interchange in the Latin American religions that have their roots in the African heritage of the slaves, whose rituals are not aimed at subverting the order . . . but entering into direct communication with gods and ancestors.”
This book contains 200 splendid pictures. The costume is Freger's true subject. They are riotously ornate, festooned with bright feathers, there are elaborate headdresses, bold color abounds, and for the most part they are not recognizable as human entities. Each image shouts flamboyant, whimsical, and vibrant. The subjects inhabit their costumes with movement and pose that echo the spirit of the masquerade. Adding to the overall aesthetic are the still natural backgrounds that convey a serenity that complements the spirited portrait. As one moves through the pages, this graphic juxtaposition suggests the thrill of viewing a wild animal in its natural habitat while on safari.
Cimarron: Freedom and Masquerade delivers on multiple levels. The underlying historic theme lends gravity to the wonderfully eccentric images.