On Saturday, my daughter and son-in-law visited Kara Walker's latest work entitled "Subtlety"...a provocative, thought-provoking, and sometimes disturbing exhibit at the soon to be demolished Domino Sugar Factory in Brooklyn.
It is hard to believe in this day and age (sugar at just over 50 cents per pound/ free sugar packets at McDonald's, Starbuck's, etc.) but, at one time (The Middle Ages) refined sugar was a luxury only the rich could afford or enjoy as subtleties...a form of after dinner food entertainment sculpted out of sugar and other spices. These subtleties (as they do today!) came with a price...slavery, relocation, loss of family, blood, death, etc. of men, women, and children around the world.
- A mammoth 35' X 80' "White Sugar Sphinx Mammy" created with 40 tons of sugar.
- 13 "Molasses Boys" carrying heavy, over-sized baskets filled with sugar cane.
- Old sugar refining equipment "still dripping of molasses..."
- The smell of sugar and molasses (and of deep human suffering) permeating the factory.
My reaction:
- A powerful reminder of the deadly history of slavery.
- The awful effects of child labor.
- My "simple" pleasures (coffee, sugar, juice, etc.) are sometimes the result of other peoples pain.
- Exploitation...yesterday and today.
- Women as sex objects...yesterday and today.
- Were these her children? Was she proud...angry...sad?
- The endurance, strength, and love of slaves...exploited people of yesterday and today.
- Sweet vs. Bitter
- Do we (taking photos with our phones, posting on Facebook, blogging, etc.) even come close to empathizing with the pain, starvation, etc. of yesterday and today?
- Or...do we take a few pictures and just keep on walking?
Watch Kara Walker discuss her art...
What are your thoughts about "Subtlety"...
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