Elana Mann: Bellows and Quakes
Solo exhibition during FORMATION exhibitions
Museum of Art and History (MOAH), Lancaster, CA
January 13 - April 14, 2024
Artist Elana Mann explores the power of the collective voice and the politics of listening through sculpture, sound, and community engagement. She is the granddaughter of a chemist who worked on the Manhattan Project and helped invent the world’s first atomic bomb. This familial legacy lies heavy on her shoulders and drives her commitment to non-violence. Her art practice revolves around the idea that the act of listening can be a catalyst for social change. Mann’s works are twofold. She creates sculptural musical instruments, such as horns and rattles, and then activates these pieces through performances. Mann’s artworks highlight the power of sound and enable political activism.
Constructed with a variety of materials, Mann’s rattles, noisemakers, trumpets, and other instruments are tools that galvanize the sonic energy of her work. From large fiberglass horns to smaller handheld ceramic rattles, each of these artworks act as their own distinct voice. When played together, they make up a unique collective unit; a synergistic roar that embodies the voices of those who strive for social change.