Acrylic and Collage on Canvas
20 x 16 in
51 x 41 cm
US $ 2,200
In this painting, part of the Mumbo Jumbo series, a figure is tightly wound within the constrictive coils of a fire hose—a potent symbol of the violent suppression of Black protest during the Civil Rights Movement. This spiraling hose reflects the ongoing struggle against systemic oppression, especially the brutal realities faced by Black communities. The vivid green figure, trapped and constrained, visually mirrors the societal forces that suppress personal freedom. Despite the playful palette of greens, blues, and pinks, a dissonance emerges, highlighting the tension between vibrancy and restraint.
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In this painting, part of the Mumbo Jumbo series, a figure is tightly wound within the constrictive coils of a fire hose—a potent symbol of the violent suppression of Black protest during the Civil Rights Movement. This spiraling hose reflects the ongoing struggle against systemic oppression, especially the brutal realities faced by Black communities. The vivid green figure, trapped and constrained, visually mirrors the societal forces that suppress personal freedom. Despite the playful palette of greens, blues, and pinks, a dissonance emerges, highlighting the tension between vibrancy and restraint.
The circular motifs, likely representing emojis, float around the figure, linking the historical past with contemporary pressures, showing how oppression adapts but persists. This work intertwines the artist's Haitian immigrant roots with his Brooklyn upbringing, much like Haitian artist Hervé Télémaque, who combines personal identity with broader diasporic themes. The Mumbo Jumbo title, referencing Ishmael Reed's novel, captures the chaotic distortions of Black identity, while the fire hose represents an instrument of violent control. Yet within these entanglements, the emojis hint at resilience, a reminder of the enduring strength of the inner self.
The relationship between the title and the painting reflects how "mumbo jumbo" embodies external forces that distort and suppress individual identity. However, within this chaos, subtle signs of joy and resistance persist, emphasizing the power of selfhood amidst adversity. This work encapsulates the layered complexity of Black identity, exploring how both historical and modern struggles intertwine in the life of a Haitian-American living in Brooklyn.