An artist's unflinching look at racial violence | Sanford Biggers

TL;DR

This content is about a conceptual artist who uses art to initiate challenging conversations about history, race, and violence.

Transcript

As a conceptual artist, I'm constantly looking for creative ways to spark challenging conversations. I do this though painting, sculpture, video and performance. But regardless of the format, two of my favorite materials are history and dialogue. In 2007, I created "Lotus," a seven-and-a-half-foot diameter, 600-pound glass depiction of a lotus blos... Read More

Key Insights

• 🌺 The lotus blossom sculpture, which reveals the cross-section of a slave ship, aims to universalize and transcend the history of slavery, encouraging discussions about our shared past.
• 🔨 The creation of "Lotus" led to a commission to create a permanent installation at a school for black and latino students, highlighting the impact of slavery on these groups.
• 🌍 Wooden African figures collected from around the world are used in the artist's work. Their authenticity is debatable, but they are believed to possess power or magic.
• 🔫 "BAM" is a body of work created in response to the killings of unarmed black citizens by the police. Figures are dipped in wax and re-sculpted using bullets, creating bronze artworks that symbolize the victims.
• 💔 The marks on the bronze sculptures symbolize the violent creation of the artwork and the scars of racial violence throughout US history.
• 🌐 "Lotus" and "BAM" extend beyond US history, sparking conversations about the long-standing issue of racial violence globally.
• ❓ A philosophy student prompted the artist to consider the origins of these recent killings, leading to a discussion about the history of racial violence dating back over 500 years.
• 💬 The artist's hope is that their artwork creates a safe space for honest dialogue about history and race, fostering personal and societal evolution through thoughtful conversations.

Questions & Answers

Q: What materials does the conceptual artist use in their work?

The conceptual artist uses painting, sculpture, video, and performance as their chosen formats for creating art.

Q: What is the significance of the lotus blossom in the artist's creation?

In Buddhism, the lotus is a symbol for transcendence and purity of mind and spirit. However, in the artist's "Lotus" artwork, each petal of the lotus blossom is actually the cross-section of a slave ship, symbolizing the atrocities of slavery.

Q: How many figures were carved to create the artwork "Lotus"?

Over 6,000 figures were carved to create the artwork "Lotus," which is a seven-and-a-half-foot diameter, 600-pound glass depiction of a lotus blossom.

Q: Where is the bronze version of the "BAM" artwork displayed?

The bronze version of the "BAM" artwork, which was created using bullet fragments, was displayed in Miami. It is said to memorialize the victims of police killings and racial violence throughout US history.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The artist uses various mediums, such as painting and sculpture, to spark challenging conversations and explore history and dialogue.

• The artwork "Lotus" depicts a lotus blossom, but upon closer examination, each petal reveals a cross-section of a slave ship, symbolizing the history and trauma of black America.

• The "BAM" artwork is created by dipping wooden African figures in wax and sculpting them with bullets, representing the victims of police brutality and racial violence throughout history.