On the Exonerated Five

"When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time." - Maya Angelou

Just finished watching this amazing documentary made by Ken Burns in 2013, which tells the story of the 1989 case of five Black and Latino teenagers wrongfully convicted of raping a white woman in NYC's Central Park. Halfway through the film, Trump's ugly mug pops up. The then real estate developer took it upon himself to take out full-page ads in 4 NYC newspapers calling for the death penalty for the accused. "It's more than anger, it's hatred. And I want society to hate them." he is shown saying during an interview. I honestly cannot look at his sea cucumber mouth, it makes my skin crawl.

Anyway, I digress. After two trials, all five boys were convicted and went on to serve prison terms of 6 to 13 years. Despite their exoneration in 2002 after a serial offender confessed to the crime, Trump still refused to retract his statements, once again demonstrating what we now know to be a rancid pattern of stoking fear and division, particularly towards communities of color. After the film came out, he tweeted that it was 'a one sided piece of garbage', which is exactly why you should all watch it.

#CentralParkFive #ExoneratedFive #Racism #Justice #USElection #Blog #blogger #beyondthecanvasblog

“The Shape of Things” at Pallant House Gallery, Chichester

"The Shape of Things" at Pallant House explores a genre that has the ability to unlock the hidden beauty and expressive force of everyday objects. As someone who grew up near Morandi's studio, for me this is by no means a minor genre. If anything, as this superbly curated exhibition demonstrates, still lives are a timeless and ever relevant mirror of society that is both intimate and universal.

Striking a delicate balance between formal simplicity and emotional complexity, still lives represent the artistic triumph of the mundane over the epic. Flowers, vases, garments, foods, plants, domestic landscapes - they all have the narrative potential and emotional depth to resonate, provoke thoughts and inspire.

This is an ambitious and engaging survey that includes the work of over 100 artists working in a variety of media ranging from painting to photography, from textile (a personal favourite) to ceramics, with each medium offering its unique perspective.

Congratulations and my gratitude to Melanie Vandenbrouck, chief curator of this gem of a museum, who took time out of her busy schedule to show me around. À la prochaine!

#theshapeofthings #britishstilllife #stilllife #pallanthouse #chichester #artblog #beyondthecanvasblog

International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia

I'm one day late due to work commitments, but I very much wanted to mark this occasion by showcasing a painting by Martin Wong (1946-1999) that has been haunting me ever since I saw it at the excellent 'Malicious Mischief' exhibition at the Camden Art Centre last year. There is something incredibly intimate and poignant about this picture where Wong depicts his parents smiling hopefully behind their laundry's door. The painting oozes a palpable affection for his hard-working immigrant family and a definite pride for his heritage.

Wong, whose work set a new auction record earlier this week, was an openly gay mixed-race man. His almost obsessive depictions of brick walls symbolises the resilient spirit of the marginalised communities he painted. He infused these brick walls with personal and cultural symbols, including graffiti, signs, and hand gestures, transforming ordinary urban facades into profound statements about identity, sexuality and social justice.

In 1994, after being diagnoses with HIV, Wong returned to San Francisco to his parents’ home where he continued to paint up to the day of his death from AIDS-related complications five years later.

#martinwong #queerartist #IDAHOBIT #LGBTQIA+ #loveislove #artblog #blogger #beyondthecanvasblog

Martin Wong

Chinese Laundry: A Portrait of the Artist’s Parents, 1984

© Martin Wong Foundation