How art gives shape to cultural change - Thelma Golden

Summary

The video script discusses the transformative power of art, particularly black artists, in shaping culture and history. The speaker, a curator, reflects on how exhibitions and museums serve as spaces for dialogue and exploration of identity, race, and creativity. Highlighting artists like Glenn Ligon, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and Carol Walker, the curator examines the role of art in redefining narratives, fostering community, and challenging perceptions. The script also touches on the global influence of African art and the continuous evolution of cultural discourse through exhibitions like 'Black Male' and 'Flow.'

Takeaways

• 🎭 The speaker's work is deeply influenced by artists, particularly black artists, who have shaped their understanding of art and culture.
• 🖌️ The speaker's project focuses on art, specifically black artists, and how art can transform our cultural perceptions and self-understanding.
• 🌟 The significance of Dino might and Jean-Michel Basquiat is highlighted as pioneering black artists in their respective fields.
• 🤔 The speaker is interested in artists who reinterpret history and create new spaces for understanding within the larger narrative of art.
• 🏛️ The concept of the artist's studio as a laboratory and the museum as a think tank is introduced to reimagine the role of art institutions.
• 📈 The exhibition 'Black Male' at the Whitney Museum is discussed as a pivotal moment that explored race and gender in contemporary art.
• 🗣️ The power of images in shaping self-perception and societal understanding is emphasized through a personal anecdote from the 'Black Male' exhibition.
• 🏢 The speaker's work at the Studio Museum in Harlem is about considering the museum's role as a catalyst for community change and cultural dialogue.
• 🌐 The series of exhibitions titled 'Freestyle' aims to discover and define the work of young black artists who are seen as cultural catalysts.
• 🌟 The idea of 'post-black' art is introduced to describe artists who work from a historical perspective but are rooted in the present moment.
• 🌟 The speaker is excited about the potential of young artists to bring energy and innovation to the community and to redefine cultural narratives.

Q & A

What is the significance of artists in the speaker's understanding of art and culture?

The speaker emphasizes that their work in understanding art and culture has been greatly influenced by following artists, examining their meanings, actions, and identities, which has led to a deeper comprehension of the role of art in shaping cultural narratives.

Why is Dino might significant to many people?

Dino might is significant because he was the first black artist on prime time TV, which was a groundbreaking moment in representation and visibility for black artists in mainstream media.

What is the primary focus of the speaker's overall project?

The speaker's overall project is focused on art, specifically on black artists, and more broadly on how art can alter our perceptions of culture and ourselves.

Who are Glenn Ligon and Carol Walker, and why are they important to the speaker?

Glenn Ligon and Carol Walker are artists who form the essential questions that the speaker wanted to bring as a curator to the world. They are important because they represent the kind of artists who understand and rewrite history, creating new spaces for understanding within the larger narrative of art.

What was the purpose of the exhibition 'Black Male' that the speaker curated at the Whitney Museum?

The exhibition 'Black Male' aimed to explore the intersection of race and gender in contemporary American art, providing a space for a complex dialogue with multiple points of entry and showcasing how the museum could serve as a platform for such discussions.

How did the speaker's experience with the exhibition 'Black Male' change their perspective on art?

The speaker's experience with 'Black Male' was life-changing, as it confronted them with the power of images in shaping people's understanding of themselves and each other, leading to a deeper appreciation of art's capacity to facilitate dialogue and challenge perceptions.

What is the role of a museum according to the speaker's vision?

In the speaker's vision, a museum should act as a catalyst in a community, housing artists and allowing them to be change agents as communities rethink themselves, fostering cross-cultural dialogues, creativity, and innovation.

What does the term 'post black' mean in the context of the speaker's work?

The term 'post black' refers to artists who start their work now by looking back at history but are centered in the present moment, aiming to redefine what it means to be African American in America and contribute to the broader cultural discourse.

What is the significance of Harlem in the speaker's projects?

Harlem holds significant importance in the speaker's projects as it is considered the heart of the black experience and a place where history, present, and future are considered simultaneously, making it an ideal location for exploring and showcasing the work of black artists.

How does the speaker view the role of young artists in shaping cultural discourse?

The speaker views young artists as vital in shaping cultural discourse, not only for their aesthetic innovations but also for the energy and excitement they bring to their communities, serving as important voices that help us understand our current situation and envision the future.

Outlines

00:00

🎭 The Influence of Black Artists on Art and Culture

The speaker, a curator, draws parallels between their work with art exhibitions and the playwright Adrienne Kennedy's work with influential figures. They emphasize the importance of understanding artists' contributions to culture and history. The speaker's focus is on black artists who have reshaped cultural narratives and created new spaces for understanding art. They discuss their role as a curator in fostering dialogues about race and gender through exhibitions like 'Black Male' at the Whitney Museum, which highlighted the power of images in shaping societal perceptions. The speaker also recounts a pivotal moment during the exhibition where a visitor's assumptions about the racial identity of artists and their artwork challenged their understanding of representation in art.

05:01

🏛 The Role of Museums in Community and Cultural Evolution

The speaker discusses the significance of Harlem as a cultural epicenter for the African American community, noting its historical importance and its ongoing role in shaping cultural identity. They question whether museums can act as catalysts for change within communities and serve as platforms for artists to drive social transformation. The speaker's work at the Studio Museum in Harlem involves curating exhibitions that explore the potential of art to redefine cultural movements and engage in cross-cultural dialogues. They reflect on the museum's founding in the late 1960s amidst social unrest and its evolution to the present day, highlighting the importance of historical context in understanding contemporary art. The speaker also references Muhammad Ali's 1975 lecture at Harvard, emphasizing the interconnectedness of the individual and the community, which resonates with their curatorial approach.

10:02

🌟 Nurturing the Creative Spirit and Reimagining Cultural Discourse

The speaker shares their vision of nurturing the creative spirit, particularly in urban America, and the importance of museums in fostering this spirit. They discuss an exhibition featuring 40 young artists over eight years, which aimed to consider the impact of this generation on society and their role in both the global art scene and their local communities. The speaker also talks about their latest project, 'Flow,' which seeks to create a global network of artists and explore the future of Africa and its influence on the 21st century. They reflect on the privilege of discovering new art and artists and the personal growth they've experienced as a curator. The speaker concludes by emphasizing the importance of art in facilitating conversations about beauty, power, and identity, and the excitement of engaging with the current generation of artists.

Keywords

💡Art as a Catalyst

The speaker discusses how art can be a powerful catalyst for change, prompting individuals and communities to rethink their identity, history, and future. In the video, the speaker explores how exhibitions, like those at the Studio Museum, can serve as catalysts for cross-cultural dialogue and community development, especially in Harlem.

💡Black Masculinity

This concept is highlighted in the speaker's discussion of a 1994 Whitney Museum exhibition, 'Black Male,' which examined race and gender in contemporary American art. It explored how black masculinity is portrayed in the media and art, aiming to start a dialogue about racial identity and representation.

💡Post-Black

The speaker introduces 'Post-Black' to describe a generation of black artists who reflect on black identity while creating art that transcends racial definitions. These artists, featured in the exhibitions titled 'Freestyle,' 'Frequency,' and 'Flow,' challenge historical narratives while forging new cultural expressions for the 21st century.

💡Cultural Movements

Cultural movements, especially those related to African American identity, are a central theme of the video. The speaker traces the development of black art movements from the Harlem Renaissance to contemporary exhibitions, showing how they contribute to reshaping the broader cultural landscape.

💡The Studio Museum in Harlem

The speaker discusses their work at the Studio Museum, an institution that plays a crucial role in supporting and showcasing black artists. The museum is portrayed as a catalyst for social change, helping Harlem reflect on its past, present, and future while nurturing young black artists.

💡Exhibition as Dialogue

The speaker views exhibitions not just as showcases for art but as platforms for complex, multi-faceted dialogue. The 'Black Male' exhibition, for example, sparked conversations about racial and gender representation, demonstrating how art can provide a space for critical discussions about identity and power.

💡Reinventing Museums

The speaker emphasizes the need to rethink museums as spaces of innovation and activism. Rather than static institutions, museums can function as 'think tanks' and 'laboratories' where ideas are tested, cultural narratives are rewritten, and communities engage with art in transformative ways.

💡Representation

Representation is a key theme as the speaker discusses how black people and their identities are portrayed in art. The example of a viewer assigning racial identities to artworks during the 'Black Male' exhibition shows the complexities of representation and the power of art to challenge preconceived notions.

💡Harlem Renaissance

The Harlem Renaissance, an early 20th-century cultural movement, is mentioned as a critical moment in black cultural history. The speaker links Harlem’s past significance with its evolving identity today, particularly through the work of black artists who continue to shape the neighborhood’s cultural and social landscape.

💡Cross-Cultural Dialogue

Cross-cultural dialogue is a recurring theme as the speaker explores how art can bridge diverse communities and perspectives. Exhibitions at the Studio Museum aim to foster conversations that transcend racial and cultural boundaries, encouraging greater understanding and collaboration.

Highlights

Adrianne Kennedy's influence on the speaker's approach to understanding art and culture through artists.

The importance of Dino and Jean-Michel Basquiat as pioneering black artists on prime time TV.

The speaker's project focuses on art, particularly black artists, and how art can change cultural perceptions.

The significance of artists who understand and rewrite history within the larger narrative of art.

The idea of creating a new narrative in art history and the world through understanding artists' work.

The concept of the artist's studio as a laboratory and the museum as a think tank.

The 1994 exhibition 'Black Male' at the Whitney Museum, exploring race and gender in contemporary American art.

The powerful impact of images on people's understanding of themselves and each other, as seen in the 'Black Male' exhibition.

The mistaken racial assignment of artworks by visitors, highlighting the complexity of racial representation in art.

The speaker's move to Harlem and the importance of the community in shaping the black experience.

The role of the museum as a catalyst for change in the community, as explored through the speaker's work.

The Studio Museum's founding in the late 60s and its historical context within the civil rights movement.

Muhammad Ali's poem about the individual and community, and its relevance to the speaker's curatorial work.

The 'Freestyle' series of exhibitions aiming to discover and define young black artists working in the current moment.

The concept of 'post-black' art and its significance in defining contemporary black artists' work.

The importance of considering the current generation of artists and their impact on cultural discourse.

The speaker's vision for reimagining cultural discourse in an international context through the 'Flow' project.

The speaker's personal discovery through curating and the importance of art in understanding beauty, power, and identity.

Transcripts

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the brilliant playright audrianne

Kennedy wrote a volume called people who

have led my plays and if I were to write

a volume it would be called artists who

have led my exhibitions because my work

in understanding art and in

understanding culture has come by

following artists by looking at what

artists mean and what they do and who

they are JJ from Good

Times significant to many people of

course because of Dino might but perhaps

more significant as the first really

black artist on prime time TV Jean

Michelle basat important to me because

the first black artist in real time that

showed me the possibility of who and

what I was about to enter into my

overall project is about art

specifically about black artists very

generally about the way in which art can

change the way we think about culture

and ourselves my interest is an artists

who understand and rewrite history who

think about themselves within The

Narrative of the larger world of art but

who have created new places for us to

see and understand I'm showing two

artists here Glenn Ligon and Carol

Walker two of many who really form for

me the essential questions that I wanted

to bring as a curator to the world I was

interested in the idea of why and how I

could create create a new story a new

narrative in art history and a new

narrative in the world and to do this I

knew that I had to see the way in which

artists work understand the artist

studio as a

laboratory imagine then Reinventing the

museum as a think tank and looking at

the exhibition as the ultimate white

paper asking questions providing the

space to look and to think about answers

in 1994 when I was a curator at the

Whitney Museum I made an exhibition

called blackmail it looked at the

intersection of race and gender in

Contemporary American art it sought to

express the ways in which art could

provide a space for a dialogue

complicated dialogue dialogue with many

many points of entry and how the museum

could be the space for this contest of

ideas this exhibition included over 20

artists of various ages and races but

all looking at black masculinity from a

very particular point of

view what was significant about this

exhibition is the way in which it

engaged me in my role as a curator as a

catalyst for this dialogue one of the

things that happened very distinctly in

the course of this exhibition is I was

confronted with the idea of how powerful

images can be in people's understanding

of themselves and each other I'm showing

you two works one on the right by Leon

golb one on the left by Robert kscott

and in the course of the exhibition

which was contentious controversial and

ultimately for me life-changing in my

sense of what art could be a woman came

up to me on the gallery floor to express

her concern about the nature of how

powerful images could be and how we

understood each other and she pointed to

the work on the Left To Tell me how

problematic this image was as it related

for her to the idea of how black people

had been represented and she pointed to

the image on the right as an example to

me of the kind of dignity that needed to

be portrayed to work against those

images in the media she then assigned

these Works racial identities basically

saying to me that the work on the right

clearly was made by a black artists the

work on the left clearly by a white

artist went in effect that was the

opposite case Bob kott African-American

artist Leon golb uh a a white artist the

point of that for me was to say in that

space in that moment that I really more

than anything wanted to understand how

images could work how images did work

and how artists provided a space bigger

than one that we could imagine in our

day-to-day lives to work through these

images fast forward and I end up in

Harlem home for many of Black America

very much the psychic heart of the black

experience really the place where the

Harlem Renaissance

existed Harlem now s of explaining and

thinking of itself in this part of the

century looking both backwards and

forwards I always say Harlem is an

interesting Community because unlike

many other places it thinks of itself in

the past present and the future

simultaneously no one speaks of it just

in the now it's always what it was and

what it can be and in thinking about

that then my second project the second

question I ask is can a museum be a

catalyst in a community can a museum

house artists and allow them to be

change agents as communities rethink

themselves this is Harlem actually on

January 20th thinking about itself in a

very wonderful way so I work now at the

studio Museum in Harlem thinking about

exhibitions there thinking about what it

means to discover Arts possibility now

what does this mean to some of you in

some cases I know that many of you are

involved in cross-cultural dialogues

you're involved in ideas of creativity

and Innovation think about the place

that artists can play in that that is

the kind of incubation and advocacy that

I work towards in working with young

black artists think about artists not as

content providers though they can be

brilliant at that but again as real

Catalyst the studio Museum was founded

in the late 60s and I bring this up

because it's important to locate this

practice in history to look at 1968 in

the incredible historic moment that is

and think of the arc that has happened

since then to think of the possibilities

that we are all privileged to stand in

today and imagine that this Museum that

came out of a moment of great protest

and one that was so much about examining

the history and the leg Legacy of

important African-American artists to

the history of Art in this country like

Jacob Lawrence Norman Lewis ramir

Bearden and then of course to bring us

to today in 1975 Muhammad Ali gave a

lecture at Harvard University after his

lecture this A student got up and said

to him give us a poem and Muhammad Ali

said me we a profound statement about

the individual and the community the

space in which now in my project of

discovery of thinking about artists of

trying to Define what might be black art

cultural movement of the 21st century

what that might mean for cultural

movements all over in this moment the

miwe seems incredibly precient totally

important to this end the specific

project that has made this possible for

me is a series of exhibitions all titled

with an F freestyle frequency and flow

which have set out to discover and

Define the young black artist working in

this moment who I feel strongly will

continue to work over the next many

years this series of exhibitions was

made specifically to try and question

the idea of what it would mean now at

this point in history to see art as a

catalyst what it means now at this point

in history as we Define and redefine

culture Black Culture specifically in my

case but culture generally I named this

group of

artists around an idea which I put out

there called post black really meant to

Define them as artists who came and

start their work now looking back at

history but star in this moment

historically it is really in this sense

of discovery that I have a new set of

questions that I'm asking this new set

of questions is what does it mean right

now to be africanamerican in America

what can artwork say about this where

can a museum exist as the place for us

all to have this conversation really

most exciting about this is thinking

about the energy and the excitement that

young artists can bring their works for

me are about not always just simply

about the aesthetic Innovation that

their minds imagine that they

Visions create and put out there in the

world but more perhaps importantly

through the excitement of the community

that they create as important voices

that would allow us right now to

understand our situation as well as in

the future I am continually Amazed by

the way in which the subject of race can

take itself in many places that we don't

imagine it should be I am always amazed

by the way in which artists are willing

to do that in their work it is why I

Look to Art it's why I ask questions of

art it is why I make exhibitions now

this exhibition as I said 40 Young

Artists done over a course of eight

years and for me it's about considering

the implications it's considering the

implications of this generation has to

say to the rest of us it's considering

what it means for these artists to be

both out in the world as work travels

but in their communities as people who

are seeing and thinking about the issues

that face us it's also about thinking

about the creative spirit and nurturing

it and imagining particularly in urban

America about the nurturing of this

Spirit now where perhaps does this end

up right now for me it is about

reimagining this cultural discourse in

an international context so the last

iteration of this project has been call

flow with the idea now of creating a

real network of artists around the world

really looking not so much from Harlem

and out but looking across and Flo

looked at artists all born on the

continent of Africa and as many of us

think about that continent and think

about what it means to us all in the

21st century I have begun that looking

through artists through artworks and

imagining what they can tell us about

the future with they tell us about our

future and what they create in their

sense of offering us this great

possibility of watching that continent

emerge as part of our bigger dialogue so

what do I discover when I look at

artworks what do I think about when I

think about art I feel like the

privilege I've had as a curator is not

just the discovery of new works the

discovery of exciting works but really

it has been what I've discovered about

myself and what I can offer in the space

of an exhibition to talk about beauty to

talk about power to talk about ourselves

and to talk and speak to each other

that's what makes me get up every day

and want to think about this generation

of black artists and artists around the

world thank

[Applause]

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you