Immersing Ourselves in “Byzantine Bembé: New York by Manny Vega”
The Museum of the City of New York (MCNY) often brings together exhibitions that highlight the rich history of New York City in forward-thinking, well-designed, immersive ways. Byzantine Bembé: New York by Manny Vega is no exception. The show brings to life the experience of walking El Barrio and seeing the lively artworks of Manny Vega that adorn street walls, subway stations, and other areas throughout East Harlem. Vega’s style has been coined as “Byzantine Hip-Hop” due to its mix of Mediterranean mosaic-making and powerful lines of Sharpie pen-and-ink drawings. Byzantine Bembéspecifically finds the narrative inside his works, which interweaves community stories in a diverse and fast-moving population and complex themes like African deities and urban mythologies. These personal and collective tales are rooted in the diaspora experience, which Vega takes from communities in El Bronx, El Barrio, and Bahia, Brazil. The exhibition brings Vega’s colorful and celebratory yet spiritual and complex worldviews to the stage and gives hope for the future of his thriving neighborhood.
When stepping foot into the small exhibition space of Byzantine Bembé, visitors are swept into the streets of East Harlem. The zestful music, placement of artworks, and structure of the show lead viewers through a wonderful journey of Vega’s life as an artist. The art is not just on display but designed in ways that feel authentic to how they would be presented in homes and on the street. For example, a wall of beautiful spiritual-focused mosaic sculptures is displayed behind an array of metal cutouts in the shapes of flames rising to the ceiling. A mirror is placed underneath the display, and a bowl that holds an offering of money is placed on top. There are also graphic design posters Vega created for events in El Barrio that add another layer of his place in the community. The choice of didactic texts on the wall does not overpower the experience and gives relevant cultural information that educates the viewer in the context of the pieces. While music is usually an unconventional choice for art exhibitions, the curated songs of Byzantine Bembé only enhance the stories in Vega’s pieces. The playlist is available to visitors on MCNY’s website and features artists that evoke the spirit and history of East Harlem. The music ranges from well-known artists like Ben E. King and Marvin Gaye to more unique beats like Cuban-native New York-based singer La Lupe and 60’s folk fusion group The Chamber Brothers. When entering and exiting Byzantine Bembé, videos of Manny Vega play where he introduces himself, as well as shares his heritage and how it influences him. Matching a face to the works on view helps visitors feel closer to Vega and his authentic artistic vision. When exiting, there is also a chance for children to create their own mosaic artworks using a magnet to move around colored wooden pieces, which brings a fun educational element to younger visitors.
Byzantine Bembé: New York by Manny Vega is a perfect example of how a smaller exhibition can still be just as powerful and immersive as its larger counterparts. It prioritizes its educational aspects while making the exhibition an enjoyable experience for its visitors. The exhibition is on view through December 8, 2024.
