U.S.A. Idioms 2017

Curator: Kara Walker's large-scale drawing, "U.S.A. Idioms," presents a panorama of silhouetted figures rendered in ink on paper. It's quite a statement in monochrome at nearly 12 by 15 feet. Editor: It's immediately unsettling. There's an almost feverish energy in the composition, a chaotic jumble of figures that seems to reflect a fractured narrative. Curator: Walker's process here is vital. The deliberate use of cut paper alludes to the historical craft tradition of silhouettes, a popular form of portraiture, particularly during the Victorian era. Editor: But she twists it, doesn't she? By confronting the loaded history of race and representation with a stark, unflinching gaze. The figures embody a grotesque caricature, playing into stereotypes while simultaneously dismantling them. I see echoes of slavery and colonial violence. Curator: Absolutely, she's forcing us to reckon with the material legacy of those histories, the consumption of bodies, the exploitation of labor that built this country. Editor: It's a powerful, disturbing work. It leaves you wrestling with the uncomfortable truths about American identity. Curator: Yes, and the scale itself implicates the viewer, drawing us into this landscape of historical trauma. Editor: It really does leave you with a lot to consider, even after you've walked away.