On March 18, Kehinde Wiley’s latest exhibition, “An Archaeology of Silence,” opened in the United States at the de Young Museum in San Francisco.
The collection, which made its debut last year at the Venice Biennale, features nearly billboard-sized paintings and enormous sculptures of Black men and women in various states, such as resting, wounded, or dead.
Wiley’s exhibitions have a profound effect on viewers, prompting emotional responses and opening up discussions around systemic racism, violence, and the role of nature in our lives.
These powerful works were created in response to the killings of Black individuals and the effects of colonialism on Africans, and they reference iconic Western paintings of religious and mythological subjects.
The de Young Museum has prepared a “respite room” for visitors who may need a break from the emotionally charged exhibition.
The room will provide a space for viewers to catch their breath and regain their composure after witnessing the intense display of art.
Museums across the country have taken similar measures, providing content warnings or installing early exits for exhibits that could be potentially upsetting for some viewers.
In addition to “An Archaeology of Silence,” Wiley has recently showcased another body of work, “Colorful Realm,” at Roberts Projects in Los Angeles.
Inspired by the nature paintings of Japan’s Edo-period, Wiley recontextualizes the genre of landscape by incorporating contemporary Black subjects in spaces where they have historically been ignored.
By doing so, the artist highlights the delicate relationship between humans and nature and acknowledges the ecological disasters and lost opportunities that have come to define our era.
Wiley’s exhibitions have a profound effect on viewers, prompting emotional responses and opening up discussions around systemic racism, violence, and the role of nature in our lives.
“An Archaeology of Silence” invites visitors to reflect on the brutality faced by Black and brown individuals, while “Colorful Realm” encourages a reexamination of our relationship with nature and the world around us.
Both exhibitions serve as powerful reminders of the need for healing and conversation in today’s society.
By incorporating elements from different cultures and time periods in his work, Wiley aims to create an American story that can be appreciated globally.
The artist’s use of modern styles and references to iconic artwork in “An Archaeology of Silence” establishes a connection between the past and present, while “Colorful Realm” showcases the beauty and fragility of nature in a way that transcends cultural boundaries.
Though Wiley’s exhibitions tackle heavy subjects such as death, violence, and ecological disasters, they also contain elements of hope and redemption.
The vibrant colors, flowers, and green vines in “An Archaeology of Silence” show nature’s resilience, while the tender treatment of the bodies in the artwork offers a sense of rebirth.
Through his art, Wiley encourages viewers to confront challenging issues while also finding solace and inspiration in the beauty of the world around them.
Kehinde Wiley, born in 1977 in Los Angeles, California, is a renowned contemporary painter known for his vibrant and large-scale portraits.
Wiley earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts from the San Francisco Art Institute in 1999 and a Master of Fine Arts from Yale University in 2001.
His artistic journey has led him to explore themes of race, identity, and representation within the context of Western art history.
Wiley’s unique style often involves depicting Black subjects, particularly men, in powerful and regal poses, drawing inspiration from traditional European portraiture.
This approach is an intentional subversion of the historical exclusion of Black individuals from classical art narratives.
By appropriating these traditional styles and techniques, Wiley creates a dialogue around race and power in the art world.
Some of Wiley’s most famous works include his “World Stage” series, in which he painted portraits of individuals from various countries, and his portrait of President Barack Obama, which hangs in the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery.
Through his art, Wiley has become a prominent voice in contemporary art, shining a light on the underrepresentation of Black subjects in Western art history and challenging conventional notions of beauty, power, and identity.
Back to previous
Lima's mayor, Rafael López Aliaga, has closed the Place of Memory, Tolerance and Social Inclusion (Lum), a museum dedicated to remembering Peru's violent history, citing municipal safety standards as the reason for the closure.
Human rights activists and organizations have expressed alarm over the closure, arguing that it contributes to a growing trend of misinformation surrounding the atrocities committed by both the Peruvian military and the Maoist guerrilla group Shining Path.
Mayor López Aliaga, a member of the conservative Catholic group Opus Dei and founder of the far-right National Renovation party, has been a vocal critic of the museum since its inception, claiming that it promotes a "false narrative" of the war.
The closure of Lum coincides with political turmoil in Peru since December, and human rights activists are concerned about the dangers of suppressing important historical events and the potential consequences of an uneducated population accepting misinformation as truth.
The European Union in Peru has emphasized the importance of historical memory for democracies and praised Lum as a place where citizens could learn about their past and reflect on the suffering endured during the conflict, with the goal of preventing its recurrence.
The AIPAD Photography Show is the longest-running exhibition devoted specifically to photography, showcasing 44 international photography galleries with a diverse range of photography styles, techniques, and subject matters.
The fair features both historical and genre-defining contemporary photography, with several galleries focusing on contemporary works.
Standouts from the presentations include Rodrigo Valenzuela's found-object sculptures at Assembly Gallery, Paci Contemporary's display of works from Brazilian and Czech Republic photographers, The Ravestijn Gallery's contemporary photography featuring human figures, Robert Mann Gallery's colourful images by Cig Harvey, and Augusta Edwards Fine Art's feminist series by Karen Knorr.
The fair also includes Benjamin Ogilvy Projects' showcase of Hal Fischer's Gay Semiotics series and Michael Hoppen Gallery's rare 1954 capture of Henri Cartier-Bresson's Boy Carrying a Wine Bottle.
VIPs who attended the preview day saw Mattie Boom and Hans Rooseboom presented with the 2023 AIPAD Award from the Rijksmuseum and were the first to see the new site-specific exhibition "Monumental Moments" curated by AIPAD.
John Locke's book "Some Thoughts Concerning Education" laid the groundwork for modern-day children's literature and established norms of effective bookmaking for children.
Newbery established the first commercial market for children's books in the West, selling small, trim paperbacks to upwardly striving middle-class English parents.
The recognition of a critical link between literacy and economic and social advancement and of the illustrated children's book as a gateway to literacy and a better life became a pattern that repeated itself around the globe.
Picture books have come a long way since their early days as high-culture picture books for privileged children and have become a global phenomenon accessible to children from all backgrounds.
The digital revolution of the early 2000s spawned a new art form, the app, but picture books remained a cherished material object and an intimate encounter between an engaged caregiver and a child.
