the so...
Acrylic on canvas. Inspiration was drawn from Basquiat and this art piece was created while I processed the killing of Tyre Nichols. Canvas is ready to hang and is 30x40 inches. “The So…” was specifically created to be showcased in the 2023 NBA All-Star Players’ Lounge.
the story behind the art
This piece was created specifically to be showcased at the 2023 NBA All-Star Players' Lounge. I experimented with a few abstract styles that I admire but up until this point hadn't been "free" enough to incorporate them into my painting. Who knew how challenging a well-placed scribble could be? It requires dropping even deeper into a state of flow and letting go than previous abstract paintings I've created.
I was still processing the death of Tyre Nichols and how it's essentially the same story with a different Black body for the last few centuries. And on the other hand, I was pondering the idea of showing up as your authentic self and how it can feel like a luxury when one is beholden to double-consciousness and the looking glass self as a method of survival. But at the end of the day, as a Black person I have to understand how the world views me and what that means while still staying true to myself. The title comes from a line (unrelated) in one of my favorite movies That Awkward Moment.
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