Rumors of War

I did this painting of the Rumors of War statue/monument by Kehinde Wiley. The statue was an answer to Monument Avenue in Richmond, shortly before the world went to shit in 2020. I was torn when it came to painting this monument, not because of any stance, but because I honestly don't think it's that great of a statue. Supposedly, according to an article in Boomer Magazine, "it is a seismic shift for Richmond in its embrace of cultural inclusion and a more complete American history and its rejection of racist mythologies." At the VMFA, almost all European art movements have a modern commentary painting as an answer. It's the museum's 'what if minorities were equal in society?' take. I've spoken with more than one artist who said it feels almost like the VMFA has become an art gallery that has taken a political stance as opposed to just showing art as it was/is. I kind of agree, but not really, but kind of...but not really...I'm kind of torn. Why? Because why stop there? Why not have sections for 'what if the Nazis had won WW2?' and have art to represent that? 

It's almost like the directors have this idea that if they were living 150 years ago, they'd have today's views, which we all know is bullshit. Besides, holding the past accountable for modern day values seems kind of weird. You are a product of your time/generation, good and bad. Your views represent the contemporary views for the most part. The art that makes waves today represents the majority of the views of the day. In 200 years, let's have an artist paint an answer to those views. 

From my end, a stereotypical image of a black male with a hoodie, ripped jeans and Nikes doesn't convey anything that suggests cultural inclusion...to me anyway. Black culture isn't ripped jeans, a hoodie and Nikes. It's stereotypical. That said, in the grand scheme of statues, it's mediocre at best.

However, it has become a cultural landmark in Richmond, and the VMFA is still one of my favorite places to go in Richmond. The painting is 16x20, oil, and is on display at Crossroads Art Center in Richmond, VA.