Trigger Warning: Possibly disturbing imagery and subject matter.
Kara Walker is a powerhouse contemporary artist to say the least. A MacArthur Fellow who produces artwork through a variety mediums such as painting, printmaking, and filmmaking to name a few, but arguably most notable for her silhouette series.
Her dynamic collection of plain-black portrait images are a powerful depiction of the torture that’s historically been inflicted on Black-Americans. What makes these works so captivating and brilliant is the fact that from a far enough distance, these images have a much different aura that’s initially presented. At first glance, the subjects appear to be happy and jolly, facading the piece as a simple portrayal of nameless individuals engaging in a variety of jovial activities. However, as you approach the artwork and take a closer look, you begin to see the true depiction of the horror. Kara is able to create gut-wrenching imagery that touches on the long-lasting effects of the physical, sexual, and psychological assault slave-owners placed on Black people.
By juxtaposing such a seemingly convivial visual aesthetic with such harrowing subject matter, I believe Walker is symbolizing a crucial facet of the Black experience in America. On the surface, it may appear as if we’ve progressed so far beyond slavery and Jim Crow that racism is simply a thing of the past, and Black-Americans live a happy-go-lucky life today. However, constant instances of micro- and macro-agressions against people of color to this day continue to prove that that couldn’t be further from the truth. While we have made significant progress, we can’t ignore how much work is still left to be done. That’s why we need impactful artists like Kara, who use their art as a form of activism to remind the masses on the reality of the situation for marginalized groups in this country.
