EMMANUEL MASSILLON

As Clear as Mud

a solo exhibition curated by Tara Fay Coleman

September 4 - October 3rd, 2021

Swivel Gallery is pleased to present As Clear As Mud, the first solo exhibition of New York-based artist Emmanuel Massillon, curated by Tara Fay Coleman. The exhibition is a visceral exploration of rebellion against oppression, relating to the idea of “double consciousness”. Comprised of both sculpture and paintings, these heavily textured and material-laden works seek to reconcile the notion of Blackness in a European-dominated society. In which Massillon uses assemblage to cross-examine inner-city culture and African cultural praxis alongside personal and social narratives of destruction that plague Black communities.

“Undercover Fed (Irony of the Negro Policeman)” draws parallels between African traditions such as figuration to policing in Black communities. With “Mud Libation,'' Massillon connects pouring rituals that originated as offerings to the dead, to contemporary Hip-Hop culture, to create awareness around how the opioid crisis affects communities of color. In “Superbowl Sundae” he explores the exploitation of the Black body within the context of likening sports to modern-day slavery, where Black males become tools for white profit, a controversial take that Massillon continues to affirm in the hopes of dismantling this system of oppression. He continues to explore this idea in “Punished for Rebellion” a sculpture depicting a ‘tarred and feathered figure as a form of public torture, a reference to the consequences faced by Colin Kaepernick for protesting police brutality and racial inequity, and how the NFL is complicit in the oppression of Black people in the United States.

Massillon’s process is rooted in his lived experience of having grown up in Washington D.C.and the ways it has shaped his world views, as evidenced by his usage of objects specific to D.C. culture, such as New Balance 990s in “Yeeee Hawww.” With “Chickenpox,” we see Emmanuel compare the gun violence affecting inner cities to a highly contagious viral infection. This take is especially poignant as the rise of COVID-19 cases persists simultaneously with the devastating inequities of medical care for Black populations. Both are diseases that disproportionately affect Black people, and speak to the larger narrative of racism as a public health crisis. Additionally, in "Breakfast In A Food Desert” he expands upon limited access to affordable and nutritious foods in low-income communities, linking it back to dietary-related diseases that plague communities of color.

The titles of artwork within this exhibition use literary devices such as alliteration and metaphors to weave a language around street vernacular combined with African Folklore that inspire Jazz, R&B, Hip Hop, and Rap, genres integral to preserving Black culture in America. Materials such as raw cotton, bullets, styrofoam cups, and sunflower seeds function as an expression of Black culture through the lense of the artist's lived experience. This exhibition is a survey of the complexities of race and identity in America, the histories of which have been muddied over time. Using narrative driven works, Massillon tells a story of a rich cultural history, and the Politics of Blackness, while acknowledging that the latter is nuanced, and at times difficult to understand; As Clear As Mud.

Emmanuel Massillon (b. 1998 in Washington D.C.) is an African-American of Hatian descent, and conceptual artist who works in several mediums. Massillon's upbringing in the inner city of Washington D.C. shapes the unique narrative that he strives to convey through his work, which is introducing others to new ideas by creating work from day-to-day life to politically charged topics. Massillon uses assemblage, gimmicks, and puns to convey thoughts across to his viewers in a simple yet evoking manner. Massillon currently attends The School of Visual Arts (SVA) in New York City and is pursuing a BFA in Fine Arts. The artist will be featured next month in upcoming group shows at UTA Artist Space and Harper’s.