Critique
"Debilitated," Hibbler
Art has long been wielded as a tool for political critique. Art that is produced in prison is replete with examples that evidence incisive and urgent commentary on a variety of social and political issues. The art featured in this year’s exhibition is no exception and tackles issues as diverse as mass incarceration, capitalism, anti-Black racism, queer identity, and policing in ways that range from the playful to the solemn.
Jeff Hoaglin’s Drowning in Hopelessness, Derrick Dawson’s Enter the Void (Self Portrait), Rod Burg’s The Cost, and Yankee Doodle’s Wasted all speak to the conditions of confinement that people in Michigan prisons must struggle to make sense of. Anastasia’s Super and KG’s playful These are NOT Scissors both bring to the fore commentary—both political and slapstick—on sexuality and sexual identity. Koya Dragon’s piece, The Mural, Americas Trauma, and Danté Danté’s Me thinking what if provide poignant stances on the issue and dire consequences of anti-Black racism in America.
The ability of art to function as a vehicle for critique is evident throughout this exhibition. Through their work, artists may engage in both candid and abstract discussions about the issues that shape their lives and the world around them. Some pieces memorialize painful histories, others ridicule oppressive systems, and many seek to bring attention to struggles that might otherwise be overlooked. Whether somber or satirical, each piece of art included here demonstrates the power of art to challenge dominant narratives and affirm the agency of the artists that create to critique.
By: Vitalis Im
