Text by Ciaran Short, All Street Gallery
Chaos Theory: the spectrum of black abstraction is a group exhibition on view at All Street Gallery (New York, NY) for the month of February, featuring the works of eight artists exploring the theme of black abstraction, spanning collage, assemblage, painting, and layered mixed media installation. The exhibition was curated by Ciaran Short and Jabari Butler in response to the monolithic manner in which black art is expected to conform to expectations of political commentary and subversion. Through abstraction, however, there may be an initial assumption of chaos and disorder, but, in reality, there is limitless potential for artists to escape neat categorization. Following this current of opposition, fragmented bodies appear throughout the exhibition and, through collage, reject both the hierarchy of figurative painting in fine art and a desire to understand the figure in its totality. Of the exhibiting artists, the works of C.J. Jackson, Austin Sley Julian, and Garry Grant abstractly embrace collage to make poignant obscured, symbolic, and even otherworldly bodies.
Jackson’s Gabriel, from the photo series I Am More Than The Box You Put Me In or Boxes, for short, explores the reconstruction of a metaphysical landscape, by taking an abstract yet critical view on the expectations that are forced upon Black people in modern society. According to the artist, “it was of utmost importance that the images selected displayed a dichotomy that closely resembles the two extremes Black art is filtered through in order to make the work palatable by art consumers: joy and sorrow.”
Julian’s sculptural piece, The Sinister Limit of a Bicentennial Imposter, was made to be presented for 2019’s Spring Break Art Show that took place across from the UN in Manhattan. The piece was shown through a loophole of curation through the fair where it did not have a booth, but was shown in the middle of the space. The Sinister Limit Of A Bicentennial Imposter is a 7’ tall sound sculpture. Julian says, “At the time of the show, my father was in the process of being evicted from my childhood home where he lived for 30 years, and in which I was born. This figurative piece is made of pieces of the apartment building, all materials were sourced from the apartment and basement of the building that was slated to be sold and renovated.”
“The MONOLITHIC SERIES is not just an artistic endeavor but a profound tribute to the resilience and ingenuity of civilizations that thrived during the medieval dynasties. Through my art, I am on a mission to bestow honor and recognition upon the often marginalized or silenced Black histories that have profoundly shaped our world.
As each multi-layer of wood assembly of sculpture takes form, it is infused with the spirit of honoring those who came before us. The MONOLITHIC SERIES is not just a reflection of my artistic expression; it is a dedication to the memory of these ancient societies. It’s a testament
to their enduring legacies, a testament that says, ‘We remember, we celebrate, and we honor you.’ Through this series, I invite you to join me on this journey of remembrance and discovery, as we pay homage to the civilizations that have shaped the course of human history.”
Chaos Theory: the spectrum of black abstraction is on view at All Street Gallery (77 East Third Street, New York, NY, 10003) from February 1 – 29, 2024. The opening reception is on February 2, from 6 – 9 pm.
To learn more about the exhibition and its attendant public programs, follow @all.st.nyc on Instagram, or visit allstnyc.com.
