Esther Cline Mongo Clarke

Magenta is a steel, terra-cotta, and fabric mixed-media sculpture. Appearing alien-like and robotic, she stands at about 6 feet, positioned in a rejoicing, dancerly pose. She's a visual symbol of music's power and the many ways that power manifests.

With her large, pointy, decorated ears, she calls viewers to look within and find what music calls to them. She has no other facial features—no mouth, nose, pupils, or skin—placing emphasis on her ears and sense of hearing. She has multiple arms representing her frames of movement, similar to long exposure, referencing music’s nostalgic ability to turn back time and bring you to your past. She echoes and celebrates music’s joy through the playful West African Ankara textile design mimicking peacock feathers covering her ceramic parts. The use of terra-cotta, her ear stretching, her hairstyle and the presence of Ugandan weavings and textile patterns tie Magenta to an African heritage, a nod to how strongly music and culture depend on each other.

Not one person has the same taste in music as another, and that taste is always subject to change. This distinction is truly a gift that, if uncovered, can transform chords and lyrics into creativity, relaxation, and emotion. Music is never stagnant, always giving, and worth searching for.