MACY ART GALLERY

These bronze masks are prototypes created by Òmònògba AI — a machine learning model I’m training on artworks looted from Benin Kingdom during the punitive expedition in 1897. Before the punitive expedition, bronze-casting and all forms of cultural production were run by the Oba (King). However, the invasion and its aftermath, specifically, the dethronement of the ruling Oba Ovonramwen led to a disruption in the cultural industry—there was no cultural production for 17 years (1897-1914). Òmònògba AI is my attempt to fill the 17 year gap.