Travis Somerville Explores Racial Relations in America's Past and Present
Vasiliki Marapas — October 22, 2014 — Art & Design
References: travissomerville & beautifuldecay
Travis Somerville explores America's racialized history, particularly within the context of Southern politics, with his powerful paintings and installations.
The Georgia-born artist invites viewers to examine how our past has informed our future. The series is particularly poignant in light of the race-related riots happening in Ferguson, Missouri, following the slaying of unarmed black teenager Michael Brown by a white police officer.
Brown's death mirrors that of George Stinney, a black teenager who was convicted of a crime against a white person and eventually executed. It was only after his death that Stinney's innocence was determined. Both Stinney and Brown represent a long history of racial injustices perpetrated by the very legal system that is meant to protect them.
The Georgia-born artist invites viewers to examine how our past has informed our future. The series is particularly poignant in light of the race-related riots happening in Ferguson, Missouri, following the slaying of unarmed black teenager Michael Brown by a white police officer.
Brown's death mirrors that of George Stinney, a black teenager who was convicted of a crime against a white person and eventually executed. It was only after his death that Stinney's innocence was determined. Both Stinney and Brown represent a long history of racial injustices perpetrated by the very legal system that is meant to protect them.
Trend Themes
1. Racial Justice Art - Exploring America's racialized history through powerful artworks presents an opportunity for disruptive innovation in creating a platform for underrepresented voices in the art industry and empowering them to speak their truth.
2. Political Activism Art - Art that highlights social justice issues presents an opportunity to disrupt the traditional art industry and provide a meaningful platform for artists to reach a wider audience and drive change through their work.
3. Confrontational Art - Art that challenges societal norms and sheds light on systemic injustices present an opportunity for disruptive innovation by stirring up conversations around difficult topics and shifting dominant narratives around race, politics, and power.
Industry Implications
1. Art Industry - The racial justice art trend presents an opportunity for disruptive innovation within the art industry by creating a more inclusive and diverse space for artists and changing the way we approach art curation and representation.
2. Social Justice Industry - The political activism art trend presents an opportunity for disruptive innovation within the social justice industry by using art as a tool for education, advocacy, and community engagement.
3. Education Industry - The confrontational art trend presents an opportunity for disruptive innovation within the education industry by using art to teach critical thinking skills, challenge stereotypes, and inspire social change.
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