Kerry James Marshall
Trip Start
Jun 16, 2007
1
15
18
Trip End
Sep 23, 2007
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Kassel,
Germany
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Marshall makes use of various époques and styles and develops many different methods of portrayal in his painting, collages, videos and comics. Black figures enter the image and stand centre-stage. He combines classic, popular and conceptual motifs with political history, the history of art and his own experiences.
In order to create an African-American presence in art museums, Marshall draws from a wide range of motifs, including private or personal moments: In Could this be love?, the lovers are devoid of intimacy, posing as if they knew that they were being gazed at. In Blue Water Silver Moon (Mermaid), a stylised black woman - apparently likewise conscious of being watched - climbs into the water. The figures the viewer encounters are nearly life-size, an aspect that further intensifies their grace and their aloofness.
