Talented African-American artist, Fahamu Pecou presents a new solo exhibition titled “I Know Why the Caged Bird Blings” – a series of work inspired by and paying homage to the late and great writer, Maya Angelou.
The collection of Pecou’s paintings explore the representation of black people in the US – a topic which is also the basis of artist’s current work on a PhD – and sees a range of images depicting young males in highly styled, ‘blinged-up’ ensembles.
Heading in Ms Angelou’s direction, which was devoted to improving attitudes towards the civil rights movement and fight apartheid in South Africa, the artist has focused his art on the struggles black people face in terms of recognition, and – developing on from his previous works based around hip-hop culture specifically – his new series sees colourful images that express movement; figures you can feel are desperate to break out of their box.
The title of the exhibition is a twist on Maya Angelou’s autobiography, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, with the paintings included looking at the excesses of some young black men – those who use grand displays of wealth to depict a certain image; trappings associated with young black men in America, which some are unable to break free of.
The artist also explores this groups desire to celebrate black culture and African culture, and nods to the recent cases of police brutality – Ferguson in particular.
The exhibition will run until 25th of July 2015 and we at SPICE suggest anyone able to reach the Backslash Gallery in Paris do so, and catch Fahamu Pecou’s “I Know Why the Caged Bird Blings” to see its brilliance in the flesh.
Image source: Widewalls.ch
