Here’s another one that almost got by without me seeing. Again I was on a quest. I asked a co-worker to name the artists that she liked and Hank Willis Thomas was on the top of her list. I had never heard of him but since our conversation I’ve been tripping over his name. I still don’t know a lot about him but this article hit my email today:
The Elusive Concept of Blackness
Through photography and film, artist Hank Willis Thomas explores what it means to be Black today.
www.colorlines.com/article.php?ID=256
What do you think?
And which artist is on the top of your list.
5 comments:
I like the photograph with the basketball. I love plays with gravity. The play on the Mastercard ad is really thought provoking. It makes you think really look.
"I love plays with gravity"?
this comment is problematic in responce to the work of Hank Willis Thomas. the concern with the comment and image is that this image is addressing lynchings and also the inability to to reach for higher goals. This is a comment on institutionalized racism allowing Blacks to only reach a certain amount of success but limiting it to "sports" or similar public "performances." In other words....shuffling under the spotlight.
In general the Willi's work can read non-comittal and that is also problematic. Does it make themes of institutionized racism, branding and caste systems part of the irony and how does it then evolve or critically question? Or does it only suggest irony and perpetuate this irony to no end.
Can there be a danger in it functioning only as a marketing image similar to any big name brand add? irony does not mean it is automatically challanging or provoking thought to its audience. It exists in a fine line that doesn't have to point a finger because its use of the "black body" is not so different in how that same "black body" is exploited by "brand" names adds like Nike, Apple, Staples, Target, Ford, Rocaware, Sean John, the US milirary etc...
Lando,
Thank you so much for your comments. Your voice is truly needed and has already helped me tremendously.
I recognized immediately a connection between the image you're referring to by Hank Willis Thomas and slavery; of being shackled. I also saw it as Blacks being chained to the constructs of a racist society that only rewards certain behaviors. I have to admit that I didn't see lynching at first sight but after your statement it became very clear (dangling legs as if hanging from a tree) and I'm can't believe I missed it.
I am still working on the questions you've asked regarding the non-comittal aspects of HWT's work. One of the things I would like to eventually address on this blog are the images that African American Artist create. Which images are recognized and rewarded and why,and how are those images received by the various audiences. One question that I have is, "Is there a particular formula for success for African American Artists?"
Thanks for the insight on the work of Hank Willis Thomas. I did see the images of lynching. I like the interpretation of that image as the inability to reach a previous goal. The images are strong. I do like to see an artist use (not play with) the heaviness and seriousness of our experience to discuss issues. Dealing with a serious subject matter may be to start a conversation that would allow the viewer to grow and expanded on the theme in some way.
I did have to look twice at his MasterCard piece. First I looked passed it as an ad. Then looked back again because did not make sense for there to be an ad to be on this blog. The danger is that an image/message would be overlooked by many people who are used to ignoring the images the same to be the regular media images.
I am a sports fan! What am I looking at now? I am currently looking at the graphic art in Fatheads. It's commercial and it happens to be a local graphic art company. The images in motion and made to go on your wall with ease. I would not mind having a Barry Sanders in my classroom or study. Open up the Gate!!!
www.fathead.com
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