Ancestral Odyssey: An Immersive Experience

“We’re honored to have Vince’s installation joining NOAAM, giving us an opportunity for historical reflection through new expressive mediums,” said Gia Hamilton, NOAAM Executive Director and Chief Curator. “Fraser's work connects African roots with modern Black life and aims to inspire, particularly young artists of color, by showing how digital art can honor the African diaspora. As our institution aims to reflect the cultural past, present, and future of New Orleans, Ancestral Odyssey embodies NOAAM’s vision for a future where digital innovation becomes a powerful tool for cultural memory.”

With over two decades in digital media, Fraser’s Afro-surrealist practice is rooted in his Jamaican heritage and Pan-African culture. His works are known for reconstructing histories, elevating African cosmologies, and challenging dominant narratives through richly textured digital compositions. His visual language blends photorealism, traditional African symbols, and futuristic motifs, creating spaces where past, present, and ancestral realms coexist.

Working alongside esteemed local collaborators and artists, such as Big Chief Shaka Zulu, Marcus Akinlana, Nana Sula Spirit, Sarrauniya Zulu, and Sunni Patterson, Fraser’s Ancestral Odyssey draws inspiration from the concept of “portals of transformation” — a powerful lens to venerate the mysticism of the Black Masking Indians. The installation presents a multi-sensory environment, offering soundscapes and digital “portals” that symbolize thresholds between the physical and metaphysical, where ceremonial practices become conduits for profound metamorphosis.

As part of this multi-sensorial environment, renowned poet Sunni Patterson contributed a powerful sonic element to the installation—an evocative soundscape that accompanies visitors as they journey through the portals. The following is an excerpt:

”Guide us to the God of ourselves, a liberatory holiness, an act of freedom and resistance, resilience and ritual. We are walking rosaries, walking altars. Have a prayer on your tongues when you see the glory and grandeur of us. This is tambourine tapping. It's knockers on the door. It's transforming all who look on, who look in.”

Traditionally known for their elaborate, hand-beaded suits and ceremonial performances during Mardi Gras (diasporic Carnival Season), Black Masking Indians honor African ancestry and Indigenous resistance through ritual and art. In Ancestral Odyssey, Fraser enshrines this tradition by depicting them as bizarre, otherworldly deities mirroring a powerful ancient presence back at the viewer. Their ornate costumes symbolize portals to mythological realms where African kings, queens, and spiritual warriors stride above skylines, uniting past and present in a celebration of legacy and resilience.

Finally, soon to be set across two distinct sites on NOAAM’s 2-acre historic Tremé campus, Ancestral Odyssey fuses technology, cultural memory, and mystic energy to offer a sensorial, digital environment for contemplation and meditation on identity, resistance, and reverence. Using AI as a medium for artistic storytelling, the installation reimagines the Black Masking Indians’ spiritual and aesthetic traditions, inviting viewers on a spiritual odyssey through ancient, African mythological realms.

“New Orleans has a special place in my heart, as a city that extends ancestral power and celebration, and I was astounded by the care and effort of the Black Masking Indians’ craftwork,” said Vince Fraser. “This installation is not just about the past. It’s about showing everyone, especially young artists of color, that there is a need and space for their stories in the present.”

In partnership with Fraser, NOAAM bridges these diasporic narratives with modern digital expression, offering a platform to celebrate and inspire the future generation of artists and welcome visitors into these immersive portals.

To celebrate the opening of Vince Fraser: Ancestral Odyssey, the museum will host a public opening reception on June 19th at 8pm CT. The evening will include activations led by artist Ashli Ognelodh-Curry and music by DJ Sabine. As space is limited, registration is encouraged. You may register at this link.