How Hew Locke Uses The Met's Collection to Deconstruct Global Icons of Power
In short: Artist Hew Locke discusses his Facade Commission, Gilt, in a conversation with Tumelo Mosaka and Kelly Baum. The discussion examines how Locke reinterprets historical artifacts to challenge traditional narratives of conquest, migration, and authority through theatrical appropriation.
Hew Locke’s project, Gilt, serves as a focal point for exploring the intersection of global history and contemporary art. By drawing on diverse works from The Met’s vast collection—spanning both immense timeframes and multiple continents—Locke employs a strategy of appropriation to interrogate the symbols of power embedded in historical iconography.
The conversation, moderated by Tumelo Mosaka of Columbia University and The Met’s Kelly Baum, highlights how Locke’s aesthetic choices transform familiar historical imagery into a critique of colonial legacies and human movement. By deconstructing these icons, Locke invites viewers to reconsider the narratives of power that have shaped our world.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: An Evening with Artist Hew Locke
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