Artist, Lina Iris Viktor: In the Black Fantastic | Hayward Gallery

TL;DR

Maps and sculptures explore historical connections between New Orleans and Liberia, cautioning against disrupting natural orders.

Transcript

maps are very political and historically significant in terms of how we make sense of the world around us and like visualizing the globe in a way that obviously we can't do without having this bird's eye perspective but maps are also very misleading when i was working on the series that haven't held a dream deferred i wanted to do a show that had s... Read More

Key Insights

• 🍁 Maps serve as political tools, depicting historical connections and manipulation of land divisions.
• 🧑‍🏭 Volcanic rock sculptures act as totemic diviners, prompting communal conversations and reflections on societal structures.
• ❎ The concept of the "Black Fantastic" challenges negative connotations of blackness and darkness.

Questions & Answers

Q: How do maps play a role in exploring historical connections between New Orleans and Liberia?

Maps drawn by American Colonization Society members portrayed tribal areas for freed slaves, highlighting the manipulation of land and subsequent coups in Liberia.

Q: What is the significance of the volcanic rock sculptures in the exhibit?

The volcanic rock sculptures, named diviners, symbolize totemic figures with a primal and communal essence, inviting viewers to commune and reflect on past and present societies.

Q: How does the concept of the "Black Fantastic" shape the artist's work?

The term "Black Fantastic" challenges negative connotations of blackness and darkness, offering a new perspective on universal implications and societal negotiations with these concepts.

Q: What message does the artist hope viewers take away from the exhibit?

The artist aims for viewers to have a reflective moment, engaging with the cohesive and restorative environment created by the artworks and exploring the historical and universal themes they represent.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Maps hold political significance, representing historical connections between New Orleans and Liberia.

• Sculptures made of volcanic rock act as totemic diviners, prompting communal conversations.

• The exhibit challenges perceptions of blackness and darkness, inviting reflective exploration of universal implications.