Urban Vessels

Abstract

Slavery elicits an image of an antiquated era. When contemplating slavery, people look back at history with a feeling of repulsion for what was considered a barbaric and inhumane time. These thoughts are often followed with feelings of pride for the progress that has been made since those times. Unfortunately, American slavery still persists. Some victims are held captive in places like factories or homes while others are transported from location to location. Human trafficking is a form of modern-day slavery where people profit from the control and exploitation of others. Many of the objects we encounter in our daily lives were in some way touched by forced labor. People are enslaved for various reasons, throughout the world and within our own communities. Some are hidden from our gaze, and others are hiding in plain sight. By integrating photography and collage techniques, I create paintings that appear opaque from a distance, yet hidden elements within the composition appear when the viewer steps in for a closer look. Hidden figures are placed within various urban vessels, set into seemingly mundane urban scenery. To create this effect, I paint onto Plexiglass, leaving strategic sections of the composition transparent. The figures are installed some distance behind the transparent sections; making them appear as if they are held within the containers they are placed in. In this process I physically mimic our complicity in this problem. If we choose to step in for a closer look, the opportunity for intervention becomes tangible. We can act or choose to look away.