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Hank Willis Thomas United States, b. 1976
After Identity, What?, 2009
aluminum letters on wood and inkjet print
152.4 x 76.2 x 5 cm
60 x 30 x 1 15/16 in
Framing Dimensions: 152.4 x 76.2 x 5 cm
60 x 30 x 1 15/16 in
Framing Dimensions: 152.4 x 76.2 x 5 cm
Hank Willis Thomas
This artwork is part of the 1969 Series, a continuation of Thomas’ exploration of the archive, in particular his collection of Ebony and Jet magazines. The compositions in this series...
This artwork is part of the 1969 Series, a continuation of Thomas’ exploration of the archive, in particular his collection of Ebony and Jet magazines. The compositions in this series utilize images from the publications and juxtapose it with text to reflect concerns and social values of the era. The elements are removed from their original layout and reorganized to emphasize the ways messages are delivered in visual culture. The series was originally commissioned by MoMA PS1 who invited Thomas and other contemporary artists to produce work responding to the year 1969, a period marked with revolution and socio-political tumult. The newly commissioned series was installed on the windows of the building on transparency film visible from the inside and outside of the building during the day, but most prominently seen at night. The original version was intended to be impermanent. Thomas has subsequently been remaking the work into vertical diptychs composed of digital C-print, wood and metal. The image and text are rearticulated to express the subtle yet powerful associations between what is seen and what is read. The works reflect a historical perspective only the passage of time can provide, as expressed through the knowledge of the present, summarizing what 1969 looked like in selected daily pictures and text.