Was This Discussed...Controversial Painting NSFW

BeatriceBean wrote: Have you seen that book? It's an illustrated novel with grotesque images of slavery, even more disturbing than the ones displayed in the library. It's not an ode to white men.   But the Black art world really dislikes her, for understandable reasons.

Thanks for confirming. I'm still trying to get info on the book. This is what I got so far:

Autobiography and/or Political Statement?

Walker has used some of her art to wage a kind of war against detractors. In a certain watercolor she lambastes Betye Saar in both the text and title of the piece. Simultaneously she displays pieces that have an autobiographical flavor, as in “Why I Like White Boys” (1998) – a piece which is a self-proclaimed reflection on her own struggles with interracial dating. Of this she says, “I want the viewer to feel as though they’ve just encountered a History (with a capital H) that they Never knew — only to discover that it is mostly my Own (and my attendant longings and imperfections) they have just experienced.”

However, Walker has stated that although she intends her work to provoke, her primary goal is not to create a shock-effect, but to foster dialog. Walker says that her work is satirical and ironic, intended as social commentary but not comedy.

i really don't know what to think about her work....

I def. wouldn't want it in a library though

I wonder who picks out what artwork is displayed and the thought process behind choosing that particular painting. was that person simply going for shock value? or did they think that the painting would spark a meaningful convo among library patrons?

I don't know...in my head I picture some crakkka who is an investment banker or in the oil business having this type of stuff post up high on his wall and then an oil panting of baphomet on the other side of the wall.

I'm just trying to picture who would buy this. Its one thing to look at this type of art in a gallery and engage in conversation and debate. But to put this up in your home or study, eh....
But that's just me.

BeatriceBean wrote: As disgusting as the depictions are, her work is super popular among the white art world. It's bothersome to black artists that, of so many amazing great pieces of art created by black people, that hers are so well-received into the mainstream. For that reason, I think that the purpose has almost been defeated, because at least to some extent it's been neutralized as "art" and she a self-serving black  into the art world. I don't mind her work...I think that it has a place...but she is certainly a divisive character and with good reason.

makes total sense

blaquefoxx wrote: I don't know...in my head I picture some crakkka who is an investment banker or in the oil business having this type of stuff post up high on his wall and then an oil panting of baphomet on the other side of the wall. I'm just trying to picture who would buy this. Its one thing to look at this type of art in a gallery and engage in conversation and debate. But to put this up in your home or study, eh.... But that's just me.