Alicia Keys donates one hundred works of African-American art to Brooklyn Museum

Brooklyn Museum vindicates African-American art with one hundred works donated by Alicia Keys

In its next exhibition, the Brooklyn Museum vindicates the presence of African-American artists in museums and opens a “great” conversation about racial discrimination through a collection of almost one hundred works temporarily donated by artists Alicia Keys and her husband, Swizz Beatz .

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Giants is the title of the set of 98 works that are part of the donation from the Dean family (the real last name of the hip-hop producer and DJ Swizz Beatz, Kasseem Dean) and that can be seen starting this Saturday, the 10th. February and until July 7 inside the New York museum.

“A Puzzled Revolution” (2021) by artist Titus Kaohar, from the art collection of singer Alicia Keys and her husband, producer Swizz Beatz, titled ‘Giants’

“We want to remind the public that there are many artists, and that the art world can be very biased in terms of which stories and which artists receive attention, recognition and inclusion in museums. We must always expand the stories we tell and the names we make known,” the exhibition curator, Kimberli Gant, explained to EFE.

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The title of the exhibition refers to various aspects that characterize the exhibition, such as the extensive compilation of pieces by emblematic artists or the inclusion of immense murals, and is related to the Deans’ strong belief that “all artists are giants.” .

A woman takes a photo of photographs of Deana Lawson, belonging to the art collection of singer Alicia Keys and her husband, producer Swizz Beatz, titled ‘Giants’, today at the Brooklyn Museum in New York (USA). EFE/ Ángel Colmenares

The couple – originally from New York – began collecting works of art 25 years ago, and through their openness to the public they both now aim to bring together the community of the Brooklyn district in a place focused on the arts and creativity, just as They explain in a recording that the viewer can hear in the exhibition itself.

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The first part of the exhibition, Becoming Giants, opens with the recreation of a children’s room created by the Jamaican Ebony G.Patterson and delves into the collectors’ side and the beginning of the Deans’ prolific musical careers. awarded several Grammy Awards.

“Battle for Area

A tour of African American art

The viewer continues his journey through African-American art with On the Shoulder of Giants, a series of rooms in which the abstract painting of the South African Esther Mahlangu stands out – which represents through striking colors the tradition of the South African Ndebele ethnic group to paint their houses – and a work by the renowned Jean-Michel Basquiat, in which he pays tribute to the African-American writer Langston Hughes.

But the most striking work is an immense mural by the portrait painter Kehinde Wiley (born in Los Angeles), in which he reinterprets a marble sculpture originally made by the Frenchman Auguste Clesinger: in his work, Wiley paints a black man lying among flowers in a carefree attitude, making use of techniques and styles historically associated with the portraits of white European artists.

“Femme piquée par un serpent”, by the artist Kehinde Wiley, belonging to the art collection of the singer Alicia Keys and her husband the producer Swizz Beatz, titled ‘Giants’ (‘Giants’)

The exhibition ends with Giant Conversations, a compilation of works that criticize historical discrimination and stereotypes associated with the African-American population, including works by artists such as Deborah Roberts (Texas), who claims the beauty of young women in several collages. African Americans and criticizes the European beauty standard.

In this section, the public will also be able to see a painting by Qualeasha Wood, originally from New Jersey, in which she expresses the femininity of queer African American women through the representation of several black virgins in which she combines Catholic iconography with technology. of today’s society, since one of the figures holds a cell phone in his hand.

According to the museum, part of the exhibition – whose tickets cost $27 – will enter the institution’s permanent collection.

Source and video: EFE. Photos: EFE (Ángel Colmenares).

2024-02-10 03:27:41
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