#walkershadowart

Kara Walker is an American artist who explores race, gender, sexuality, violence and identity in her work. She is best known for her large scale tableaux of black cut paper-silhouettes, which expose the viewer to the issues of prejudice. ‘Slavery! Slavery!’ is an example of this work, created in the year 2000. Through many displayed qualities such as colour contrast, the simple narrative, layout and exaggeration, Walker provides a strong critique of the plantation culture. What initially looks like a historical instillation is later dismissed upon closer scrutiny, as the shadow figures are shown to be revelling in all kinds of erotic, sadistic and masochistic acts. This portrayal of the design is executed in a way that emphasises Walker’s sharp sense of wit and humour, yet still addresses the history and identity with a powerful directness. Through the use of largely stereotypical and exaggerated designs, Walker is able to challenge this notion of prejudice and effectively display the horrors of it.

[ Sources:
- Art History lesson notes.
- https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artists/kara-walker-2674
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kara_Walker
-https://walkerart.org/collections/artists/kara-walker ]