Devin Troy Strother
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Devin Troy Strother knows how to throw a party on a canvas with his mixed media explosions of color and cut paper. He’s a California artist transplanted to Brooklyn, and he’s one to watch. When I look at his work, I hear loudness (in a good way).
1 comment
sand Sunday 22 January 2012
Am fascinated at the way in which images correspond to the climate of our times.
It is true that an image can convey many things and often portrays the same things
about the image maker or where they come from.
Devin Troy Strothers work makes a statement about parties, concerts, fantasies and other
spectacles within an urban setting. What is interesting here is that Strothers work seems driven
at this point by a “market audience.” His interest in fantasy with Black bodies is not new nor is it
rare. Contemporary Artist Tom Sanford likewise fetishises and incorporates Black bodies into his fantasy paintings. His depictions of Black celebrities or people in general denotes the gross vilification of the Black body for the sake of entertainment and commercial profit. Otherwise Rob Pruitt and Jack Early would not have collaborated in 1992 or Jason Rhoads would not have made his “Black Pussy” piece and titled a show after it. Also, johnny weissmuller would not have made 12 Tarzan films and 13 Jungle Jim films if there wasn’t a profit in depicting Black people are raging savages.
Devid Troy Strothers understands this particular psychological effect on American culture and society. He may not be aware of the trauma passed on directly to him from all sides but he like Tom Sanford, Johnny Weissmuller, Jason Rhoads, Kalup Lindsay and Flip Wilson understands that there is an American fascination with stereotyping Black people. The unfortunate side, though there are many, is that it is seen as entertainment by many but at a very high cost. Strothers may be providing a service to his audience and it may profit him but he’s also destroying hundreds of years of struggle to change those stereotypes.