Unmask the Music of our Masquerade

WRITTEN BY GERRICKA DACPANO & BRIANNA ORTIZ

ILLUSTRATION BY MENGHAO LEE

When you think of a gallery, you may picture an isolated room surrounded by white walls with various artwork strung about. The floor is either hardwood or concrete, and the guests are probably rich elites and art connoisseurs mingling with wine and crackers in their hands. Of course, this is the more stereotypical scenario that most people imagine.

And then there’s the music. Most likely it is either classical or jazz instrumentals, maybe even opera if you are fancy enough. But what if it was something less conventional, like punk, rock, or rap? How would music affect the way people see the art? What role does it play in shaping the gallery show altogether? With this in mind, we interviewed members of the Spring 2025 Illustration BFA Senior Show “Unmasked” on how they’ve utilized music to promote their gallery, and how they’re planning to use it in their upcoming showcase.

Q: To start, who are you and what is your role in the gallery group (aside from artist)?

G: I’m Ethan Galvez, head of the social media committee.

R: I’m Michelle Ramos, head of gallery and clean-up.

K: I’m Natalia Kim! I’m one of the co-chairs.

Q: In what ways did you utilize music to promote the show?

R: The social media team added background music to the artist spotlights. We’re also planning on having ambient music during the gallery exhibition, both to match the theme of the exhibition and also just for general ambiance.

G: “Unmasked” heavily plays into the concepts of mystery and celebration. Music was the foundation that helped establish these concepts and evoke feelings when promoting the show. Jazz was the best choice since our visual theme pulled much of its inspiration from the era of Art Deco and Film Noir. When we first started promoting the show, we went with “Sing, Sing, Sing” by Benny Goodman as our main theme because it was able to build up feelings of curiosity and transition into something more upbeat and celebratory. We continued to incorporate Swing Jazz into our promotional trailers with the addition of Dark Jazz to further build on the mystery aspect of our show.

Q: What was the purpose of having each artist choose their own song for their artist spotlight? And how do you think the songs influenced the way people view the artist?

G: The artist spotlights not only introduced each artist participating in the show but also provided them with a platform to express their true selves to an audience they may not have had access to before. With that in mind, I wanted to give the artists as much creative control over what they wanted to include, including the music that played in the background. Believe it or not, a person’s music selection reveals a lot about them: their personality traits, emotional state, values, aesthetic preferences, identity, and even their creative expression. I hope audiences use this opportunity to learn more about our artists and maybe even start associating them with the songs they’ve picked, the same way superheroes have their own theme music!

K: I think that choosing a song to play for the artist spotlight lets the audience know how we are as a person. Not only do they get a snippet of our art, but they also get what we probably listen to while we make the art!

Q: What type of music do you think fits the theme of the gallery show?

K: A mysterious or elegant vibe, we are trying to go for a dream masquerade!

R: Something smooth and jazzy. Our theme is “Masquerade,” so a style of music you would see at a masquerade event would be good.

Q: Were there any songs that helped inspire or set the mood for the gallery’s theme?

G: While there wasn’t a single song that directly inspired the gallery’s theme, many artists felt strongly about the video game “Persona 5” which ultimately influenced the theme during the show’s development. “Beneath the Mask,” one of the overworld themes from the game by Lyn Inaizumi and Shoji Meguro, best embodies our theme with its symbolism around self-identity and the mystery it evokes. “Sing, Sing, Sing” by Benny Goodman also elicits a response that I feel perfectly fits the show; while some aspects of the song build up anticipation and curiosity, the overall energy makes you want to dance and celebrate!

Q: Will there be a playlist planned for the opening reception? What songs do you want to be played and why?

R: We still have to discuss the playlist itself, but having a playlist planned ahead of time is definitely something we’ll do. I don’t really have any songs off the top of my head, but I think something purely instrumental would be for the best.

G: I would love for “Beneath the Mask” and “No More What Ifs” from “Persona 5” to be played throughout the gallery space. There’s a soft and peaceful feeling conveyed in both songs that I feel pairs perfectly with walking through a gallery. Additionally, the lyrics and symbolism align with the theme of the gallery.

Q: Outside of the gallery show, if your artwork had a personal theme to accompany it, what type of genre/which songs would it be? How do you think that would affect the way people look at your art?

K: I think definitely something similar to Charli xcx’s “Von dutch” or popular Kesha songs. I love that vibe for me!

R: I think for my personal artwork, the genre of music that would accompany it is video game soundtracks. It’s the kind of music I often listen to while drawing and it’s the perfect blend of engaging and unobtrusive.

G: I don’t believe there is a specific song or genre of music that best encapsulates my current artwork, given how different each piece is. If I were to choose music to accompany my art, it would be a song that represents me as an individual. “Crazy” by LE SSERAFIM, “Sugarcoat (NATTY SOLO)” by KISS OF LIFE, and “Whiplash” by aespa would be the contenders. At the end of the day, everything relates back to the self. I want people to look at the art I create or listen to the music I choose and see and think of me.

As you can see, music is a form of artistic expression that is being carefully considered by members of the upcoming gallery show. These artists know that music can help create a narrative, provide inspiration, and add to the overall emotions of the event. It is more than likely that the playlist chosen will play an important role in how they want to be remembered. The sounds of the night will be just another element to look forward to as the opening reception for the Illustration Senior Show: “Unmasked” will take place on Sunday, April 13, from 5-7 p.m. at the Gatov Galleries on campus. You won’t want to miss it!