Trinidadian mas man Ray Mahabir has been practising his craft at Notting Hill for 27 years. He’s fashioned for himself a reputation for thought-provoking ‘traditional’ mas made to high standards, first with South Connections at Oval House and then with his own band, Brixton-based Sunshine International Arts.
For the past few weekends, Ray has flung open the doors of Sunshine Studios for a free exhibition of over 100 of his mas designs, plus costumes and components. As this reviewer can testify, his costumes don’t just look beautiful at Carnival, they can also withstand the rigours of hours of hard action on the road at Notting Hill while remaining comfortable for the masquerader.
This weekend is your last opportunity to catch this important display of 27 years of carnival history.
The exhibition is open from 1pm to 6pm on Sat 8 and Sun 9 June 2024. Entry is free, so take yourself down to 209A Coldharbour Lane, Brixton SW9 8RU; use the Loughborough Junction stop on bus services 35, 45 and 345.
