HOODED SERIES
As an artist, I am drawn to exploring the complex intersection of identity, representation, and social perceptions. The hoodie has become a powerful symbol of casual and comfortable clothing within black youth culture, representing a sense of belonging, solidarity, and resistance against societal prejudices and discrimination. My "Hooded Series" utilizes actual hoodies, stuffed with styrofoam, painted in acrylic paint, and emblazoned with a single word on the front chest. Influenced by the soft sculptures of Cleas Oldenburg, this series combines elements of pop art, minimalism, and conceptual art to create a thought-provoking and engaging commentary on contemporary society. Through this medium, I seek to evoke the way African American youth are percieved and labeled in society when wearing a hoodie.
The use of everyday objects in art has a long and varied history, dating back to the readymades of Marcel Duchamp in the early 20th century. Artists such as Claes Oldenburg and Robert Rauschenberg continued to explore this concept in the 1950s and 1960s, creating works that challenged traditional notions of art and elevated the ordinary to the realm of the extraordinary. In the 1980s and 1990s, artists such as Jeff Koons and Damien Hirst took this idea to new heights, using commercial materials and mass-produced objects to create works that were both provocative and beautiful. My "Hooded Series" draws on this tradition, using the hoodie as symbol of contemporary society's ongoing struggle with race, identity, and inequality. By elevating this everyday item to the realm of art, I seek to spark a conversation about these complex issues and inspire viewers to think critically about their own role in creating a more just and equitable society. By transforming the hoodie from a wearable item of clothing to a static art object, I aim to create a powerful visual statement that challenges viewers to reflect on their own assumptions and biases.
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HOODED #1
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HOODED #2
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HOODED #3
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HOODED #4
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HOODED #5
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HOODED #6
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HOODED #7
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HOODED #8
HOODED #9
