Detroit-based artist Mario Moore explores Black identity and history through bold portraits that blend European painting traditions with contemporary themes in his latest exhibition, Beneath Our Feet. Drawing inspiration from Dutch devotional garland paintings, Moore emphasizes Black figures amidst floral arrangements, reclaiming symbols like the watermelon as representations of resilience. His body of work reflects a journey through the legacies of the Black diaspora, addressing ongoing racial divisions. With personal history as a catalyst, Moore challenges perceptions of the past's influence on present racial dynamics, creating a continuum of cultural dialogue.
In 'Watermelon Man,' a stone altar is surrounded by hibiscus and watermelons, reclaiming the fruit's historical representation of resilience for Southern African Americans.
Moore's work draws on both Detroit's culture and the wider U.S. narrative to examine how racial divisions profoundly impact our present.
His education into his ancestor's experience as a child enslaved and later a soldier fuels his artistic focus on Black histories and contemporary relevance.
Through his paintings, Moore explores the continuity of history, using European traditions to elevate the representation and narratives of Black individuals.
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