Joana Vasconcelos' Valkyrie Mumbet Installation Honors Enslaved Woman Who Sued for Freedom

Portuguese artist Joana Vasconcelos created a site-specific installation titled Valkyrie Mumbet for the MAAM MassArt Art Museum in Massachusetts. The large-scale work, part of her Valkiries series made from fabric, embroidery, and lights, references the mythological Valkyries as strong female figures. Each piece honors a woman who made history. This particular installation, inaugurated in February 2020 to mark the museum's reopening after major renovations, is dedicated to Elizabeth “Mumbet” Freeman, the first enslaved woman to win her freedom through the Bill of Rights. Her 1781 legal victory set a key precedent leading to the abolition of slavery in Massachusetts. The work incorporates capulana, typical decorated fabrics from Mozambique, a former Portuguese colony and the artist's parents' origin, reflecting a painful history of slavery. The museum's director, Lisa Tung, guides viewers through the colorful installation, which permeates all museum spaces and hosts Vasconcelos' first solo exhibition in the United States.