42 Social Club is pleased to present “Burbville” an exhibition by Baltimore-based artist Kumasi J. Barnett, whose appropriated comic book paintings reclaim the white hero-worship of the superhero space for more t imely conflicts.
*NOTE: The gallery is donating all proceeds to Public Art For Racial Justice Education : An amazing project in Eastern CT dedicated to bringing together artwork and racial justice advocacy to change hearts and minds.
(FOR PRESS RELEASE AND FULL PRICE LIST PLEASE CONTACT US.)
BURBVILLE
KUMASI BARNETT
OPENS SATURDAY AUG 14
(or by social distanced appointment only)
42 Social Club is pleased to present “Burbville” an exhibition by Baltimore-based artist Kumasi J. Barnett, whose appropriated comic book paintings reclaim the white hero-worship of the superhero space for more timely conflicts.
In this new work, the artist paints over the covers of traditional Marvel or DC comic books, replacing familiar characters with a new set of topical heroes. Beloved heroes like Spider-Man and The Hulk are transformed into meta-cultural icons like The Amazing Black-Man or The Thug. In this show, a new character, Superboy, is transformed into Whiteboy. The character’s original iconic red cape is replaced with a pink sweater, neatly folded over the superhero’s shoulders in classic Ivy League style. In this way, Barnett satirizes “The American Way” by appropriating and transforming familiar comic
book imagery. Barnett’s characters form a brutal hyper-realistic version of an all too familiar America. Through these comic books, we watch a subculture of heroes take on a terrifying host of novel super villains. Stereotypes, prejudices, southern pride, and killer police are all parts of Barnett’s evil alliance, turning traditional tropes on their head and raising many powerful cultural questions.
Acquired from years of gathering, many of the comic books Barnett uses are personal mementos sourced f rom his private collection. The collection also includes recent purchases that revisit and re-engage the artist’s youth spent among the dusty shelves of comic book stores in Baltimore Maryland. The artist comments on contemporary culture and importantly highlights Black nerd culture. These works go so much deeper than racial commentary, t they t take over a space known for marginalizing people of color. In Barnett’s series, each comic is repainted to obscure and obliterate the original icons.
This allows a new and sometimes terrible story to be built around our fragile and familiar comic book experience. The result is small nostalgic paintings that walk a tightrope over pain, mockery, humor, and truth. Barnett’s work shakes this tightrope of culture that unites us all as Americans, both in its heroic iconography and stereotyped racism.
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Kumasi J. Barnett received his MFA from The Ohio State University, and now lives and works in Baltimore, MD. Influenced by the aesthetics and narratives of comic books, his work subverts and imbues t the often timeless genre with a present-day social consciousness. Barnett frequently paints directly over old copies of comic books, changing their narratives into critiques of police brutality, racial profiling, and more broadly, systemic racism.
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*NOTE: The gallery is donating all proceeds to Public Art For Racial Justice Education : An amazing project in Eastern CT dedicated to bringing together artwork and racial justice advocacy to change hearts and minds.
