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Hank Willis Thomas
New York, NY
Posted: 6.30.09
More info: Artist site
Rating: 
( after 144 votes)
About the “B(r)anded Series”:
The B(r)anded series is a result of an exploration, and subsequent appropriation of the language of advertising. By employing the ubiquitous language of advertising in my work, I am able to talk explicitly about race, class and history in a medium that almost everyone can decode. Much of the work focuses on the use of African American male body in advertisements. I am interested in the connection between this body type and the cotton and slave trade industries that brought this country so much wealth.
I love art that puts the message directly out there instead of making you stare at it thinking “What the hell?…”. Very nice.
I get what you are saying & applaud the message, find the Mastercard logo a bit cheezy. Lived in NYC for 25+ years & it is appalling how once you move out, you find everyone so pro gun rights and totally not understanding. I’m 50 yo & waiting for the day that nobody notices race or gender, and that day is approaching slowly. I assume you are African-Amer & so support your choice to explore slavery, however, I have to say, that I also look forward to the day when people understand that slavery is an abomination visited on many races over time, when more emphasis is placed on the idea that holocaust-type exterminations happened to many races & is a crime against humanity in general, & please remember that the vast majority of people in the US now did not have ancestors in the US at the time slavery took place. None of us should forget any of these things, and none of us should allow them to exist, just I hope one day it is taught as an overall philosophy that cannot be condoned and not as individual atrocities visited on one race alone. Good luck!
It’s not in bad taste, that’s a ridiculous “critique” of any art. The problem is that it’s not in “bad taste” enough. Comments that it’s shocking and abrasive…really? It’s all pretty obvious and too…easy I’d say. It’s either trying to comment on a change that needs to be made, in which case it needs to find something much more unexpected or it’s trying to comment on how weak the current attempts to do that are, in which case it needs to be much more layered.
Get the audience participating, no one learns/discovers if they don’t have to think.
This artwork portrays a forced message. I do believe, however, that you should use the brilliant creativity, such as in the bullets bottle, in more of your work.
Intense commentary and VERY well done. It moved me deeply and I hope to see more work from you.
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