99% NO.31 2013

Curator: Sedrick Huckaby's "99% NO.31" at the Harvard Art Museums presents a row of figures rendered in stark black lines. Editor: My first impression is one of quiet tension. The sketchy quality almost suggests impermanence, but the figures stand tall. Curator: The composition relies heavily on line quality, thick and almost frantic in places, to define form and create depth. Note the varying degrees of detail given to each figure, suggesting a hierarchy of importance. Editor: Considering Huckaby's focus on community and identity, I wonder about the process of creating such raw images. What materials did he choose and how do they speak to his subjects' experiences? Curator: Perhaps the rapid, almost frantic marks reflect the urgency of the message. The composition draws the eye to the figures' faces and posture, inviting contemplation on the state of their being. Editor: It's compelling how the materials themselves – seemingly simple – become integral to conveying the weight and urgency of the subject matter. Curator: Indeed. It’s a potent reminder of art's capacity to communicate complex truths through fundamental artistic elements. Editor: A simple piece with powerful layers to unravel.