Arthur Jafa - 52 Walker
Installation view
Arthur Jafa: BLACK POWER TOOL AND DIE TRYNIG
Courtesy 52 Walker, New York
52 Walker
New York, NY
April 05–June 01, 2024
Written by: Max Wiener
Arthur Jafa’s effortless, cool, and masterful eye renders his new exhibition a true sight to be seen and experienced.
Arthur Jafa is, without a doubt, as colloquially put as possible, cool. His aura is chic and suave, like a rockstar with a band of groupies following his every move. His art compliments his image, and his new series, BLACK POWER TOOL AND DIE TRYNIG is a pristine spectacle of a genius’ work that truly knows no bounds. Staged intricately at New York’s 52 Walker Gallery, Jafa’s exhibition is deep, moving, and modernly approachable . It’s one of those rare occurrences that something with heavy themes is done so poignantly that all can resonate with it, not just those directly associated with its meaning. Pairing intimate imagery with pop figures’ iconography, the series shows the true mastery of Jafa not just as an artist, but as a curator of thought. The triumphant opening of BLACK POWER TOOL AND DIE TRYNIG occurred on April 5th and is scheduled to close on June 1st.
Arthur Jafa. Courtesy the artist and Gladstone Gallery
As you walk into the gallery, you’re greeted by Jafa’s literal maze, and upon entering the sizable black structure, a world of storytelling awaits you. Jafa tells the story of Black America through some of its heroes, like Jimi Hendrix, and ordinary people who contribute an arguably equal amount to the complex puzzle of their story. Jafa splices the two beautifully, and we are not drawn to one God-like figure, although seeing a life-size image of Hendrix from the Band of Gypsies album cover surely will make one stop and stare.When you look into the eyes of regular people, you see the truth. One of Jafa’s most interesting choices is to purposefully blur certain images, almost thwarting the sense of reality associated with them. We look into their eyes, but it's as if they don't need to look back, telling us their stories bluntly without room for us to share ours. It’s a profound experience and makes us want to examine each piece further. Unlike any other contemporary exhibition, we need nothing except our open minds, allowing the space to flow with creative juices.
Arthur Jafa. Courtesy the artist and Gladstone Gallery
One of the main components of BLACK POWER TOOL AND DIE TRYNIG are large-scale cutouts that occupy a significant portion of the gallery’s space. You immediately see the iconic coolness of Miles Davis and the rebellious magnitude of the Sex Pistols' gaze, but placed between lesser-known names, they all become slightly more mundane.. Their work is appreciated, yes, but Jafa’s purposeful splicing ignites the beautiful harmony of humanity in all of us. He shows us that we all, no matter how famous, interesting, or successful, are people on Earth. We struggle with the same issues and have little idiosyncrasies that drive our daily lives. Looking at these life-like depictions is all the more inspiring in each of our journeys into self- discovery. Because of Arthur Jafa and BLACK POWER TOOL AND DIE TRYNIG, we learn a bit more about ourselves.
More Here: 52 Walker
