Rashid Johnson, born in Chicago in 1977, lives and works in New York and is recognized as one of the major voices of his generation. He composes searing meditations on race and class using a variety of artistic traditions. His early studies were in photography and conceptual art, but he is equally interested in other mediums and testing the ability of abstract visual languages to communicate across cultural boundaries. He now works across media using video, sculpture, painting, and installation to address issues of African-American identity and history. Rashid Johnson addresses themes of identity, anxiety, and escape across various mediums. In each of the assemblages in the artist’s Falling Man series, including the work below, the shape of an upside-down man appears in ceramic or mirrored tiles. In form, they recall the pixilated characters from vintage video games falling into the void after virtually “dying” or failing to complete a level, or the chalk outlines of real-world bodies left at crime scenes. In this work, the figure is surrounded by tiles marred by spider-web cracks that suggest bullet holes as well as abstract splatters of black soap and spray paint, all alluding to the aftermath of a violent event. Johnson often includes autobiographical references in much of his work. Falling Man, 2015, for example, includes a star-shaped cutout that frames a photograph of Johnson’s father taken around the time of the artist’s birth. The collection of books and a radio that can be seen in the background of the photograph are frequently recurring objects for the artist and appear in several of his sculptural and installation works.
Identity in art: the way an artist perceives or expresses themselves within their artwork, often by questioning, exploring, and expressing
Begin by using the Teaching Tips and Tools for Discussion or ask your students to self-guide themselves using the Tools for Looking at an Artwork. An example of how to bring in information about the artist from something your student observes: They may notice that the cracks in the glass look similar to how bullet holes may look. You can share that the artist is bringing notions of violence against the African-American community into his artwork. You might want to ask your students how that makes them feel and why they think the artist thought it was important to add that element to his work.
Next, watch the following video:
Begin a discussion with your students by asking the following questions:
In the video above, Johnson mentioned how he included a rug in one of his installations so that the viewer could imagine themselves moving with the video. Explain to your students that they are going to take time to do some movement before they begin creating an artwork.
Ask your students to lay out a yoga mat or a blanket in an area where they have room to move. Lead your students in a movement exercise including poses that are high and low, as well as slow and fast, then ask them to jump to mimic the movement that inspired Johnson for his New Black Yoga video piece. (If you would prefer for your students to watch a video, look for one that includes yoga, tai chi, dance, etc.)
After they have finished a few minutes of movement, have them sit quietly and take a few deep breaths. Ask them to think of an object that represents them and to take a few moments to concentrate on that object.
Overview: In this project, students will explore how to express their identity through multiple ways of artmaking, taking inspiration from Rashid Johnson’s Falling Man, 2015.
