In T Magazine's Solo Show, Dawoud Bey discusses his artistic journey, inspired by historic works that influence his depiction of Black identity. His recent exhibition features Stony the Road and the film 350,000, exploring the Virginia landscapes that witnessed the arrival of African captives. Bey shares how visiting museums and galleries in the 1970s helped inform his self-education as a photographer. He emphasizes the importance of representation, particularly in his early encounters with works by Walker Evans and Alice Neel, which shaped his artistic aspirations and connect to broader art traditions.
In 1975, I was just beginning my own serious pursuits as a photographer. I was spending a lot of time in museums... I hadn't attended art school yet.
This was the first photograph by Evans that I saw that contained a Black subject... it seemed to embody everything I aspired to at that moment.
Dawoud Bey's works demonstrate how he connects contemporary representations of Black life with historical narratives, reinforcing a legacy of representation through photography.
His recent works, Stony the Road and 350,000, encapsulate the journey of Black Americans through a deep engagement with both personal and collective histories.
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