In the painting of Édouard Manet ‘The implementation of Keizer Maximilian” – A series of works is actually completed between 1867 and 1869 – A shooting team performs the Hapsburg Royal and two generals dramatically. Maximilian became Emperor of Mexico at the insistence of Napoleon III, after the second French intervention in the country between 1861 and 1867.
For his upcoming Solo exhibition, High bee Jeffrey DeChArtist from New Jersey Tyler D. Ballon Relocates the work of the 19th-century painter in a 16-foot-wide two-fold entitled “Right to wear weapons/second amendment” that two young black men portray those three young black women, who look directly at the viewer, in spite of Objectivation.
“Seeing a gun aimed at a person of color is something that is known in American history,” Ballon says in a statement. “But having an African -American man who holds a gun is clearly different. The work challenges the perception of black men from those poor wearing, recovering their image as patriots and protectors and pays troops to the troops of the civil war. “
Patriotism and narrative weaving through the architectural works of Ballon, based on the inheritance of History paintingAfro -Mamans in the civil war and identity through the lens of contemporary sports. The artist says:
While making these paintings, I realized that there is an interesting dichotomy between sports that is a tool for success and that black bodies are used to promote American ambition. My paintings day stereotypes from those people of color limiting to achieving success exclusively through physical bravery or musical talent. These works celebrate the resilience of young Afro -Marikans who make up a better life with the help of the available resources.
Ballon digs up black American history and gives tribute to those who fought for citizenship and freedom. Through football, a typical American sport, he evokes military ideologies that also offer young men “a way to channel their aggression, build companionship and find fulfillment,” he says. “Games evoke fights; coaches are compared with generals or lieutenants; and important players are allocated to be offensive or defensive ‘captains’ who lead their teammates and pass on calls from the sidelines.
Ballon chooses to represent his hometown of the Abraham Lincoln High School of Jersey City to represent a metaphorical and symbolic regiment and nods into black civil war veterans who fought for the rights of Afro -Amaricans. Football is also channeled as a means for young people to continue to higher education and to promote their future perspectives. “The children in these paintings are proof of progress and a source of hope for the future,” says the artist.
In “Before the Battle”, players adjust and a coach stands to the left and looks back directly to us, just like many of the determined players. In ‘Fellow Countrymen’ we see three leading players who also make eye contact, sent and ready to take what the other team throws their way. Our perspective is always a bit lower than eye level with the figures, and encourages us to view them in subtle respect, as we would do with many of the large portraits and fight scenes of art history.
Ballon grabs the troubled legacy of an early 19th-century history painting, which prior to the widespread use of photography was a way in which the European public could understand the overseas colonial rich of their nations, all of whom had deep and violent influence on black and indigenous peoples .
History painting was seen as a form of documentation, sometimes criticized because of the lack of accuracy with regard to images of fighting, but it turned out to be a powerful method for promoting white European imperial attitudes. For Ballon, the ownership of the genre yields a powerful tool, so that the tables are reversed on both that makes and is depicted in the monumental scenes.
Ballon also celebrates marching bands, historically used to transfer orders and signals to military troops, which took on the role of moral and unity boosters over time. “I choose to portray the marching band of Malcom X Shabazz High School for their renowned excellence in progress, their roots of New Jersey and their namesake, Malcom X, a crucial leader during the civil rights movement whose ideology the Afro -American culture and History has stimulated, “says Ballon.
The title of the exhibition, Fly high, reflects the ambition to rise above the setbacks of the inner city life. “My work focuses on the lives and experiences of the people in my community,” says Ballon. “I believe in capturing moments that can inspire and validate their existence, so that their stories go beyond geographical and temporary boundaries. I want young people to be worthy of becoming immortal in art – a recognition that transcends time. “
High Runs from 8 March to 19 April in New York City. See more about the artist website And Instagram.
