Kehinde Wiley’s floral, haunting Archaeology of Silence

This outpouring I went to spot the accumulation Kehinde Wiley: An Archaeology of Silence astatine The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. The supersized scale, vivid botanical backdrops, and haunting, tragic poses of Kehinde Wiley‘s portraits of Black women and men made for a almighty viewing experience.

The richly colored, monumental paintings were paired with life-size bronze sculptures elevated connected plinths, each 1 spotlit successful a dim room.

Wiley uses “the ocular connection of heroes, martyrs, and saints arsenic portrayed successful Western European humanities art,” says MFAH. His The Death of Hyacinth, for illustration — a pistillate successful a reddish blouse and ripped jeans — references a mid-1700s coating called The Death of Hyacinthus…

…complete with orangish drapery, a dropped racket, and achromatic flowers.

These reimagined classical figures, susceptible and prone, chopped down successful their youth, are a commentary connected society’s unit toward Black individuals.

They are besides beauteous and beingness affirming. In each painting, the taxable is portrayed with individuality and dignity against a backdrop of life represented by twining vines, flowers, and leaves.

Those acquainted with the classical references would get adjacent much retired of the show, I imagine.

But the tenderness of practice is moving adjacent without an extended cognition of creation history.

If you person a accidental to spot the exhibition, I urge it. It opened successful San Francisco and past went to Houston. Next up are Miami and Minneapolis:

• Pérez Art Museum Miami (July 26, 2024–January 12, 2025)
• Minneapolis Institute of Art (February 22–June 22, 2025)

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