Minimalist black poster for "Going Dark: The Contemporary Figure at the Edge of Visibility," featuring large dark blue "GOING DARK" text on top, a small blue rectangle at center, and the subtitle addressing social visibility at the bottom.
An open book titled "Going Dark: The Contemporary Figure at the Edge of Visibility" displays a photo of a wrinkled, dark hooded sweatshirt lying on a light, textured surface; the minimal background and plain book edges enhance its subtlety.
An open copy of Going Dark: The Contemporary Figure at the Edge of Visibility shows two pages—on the left, a blurred figure stands near smoke with a building behind; on the right, people and smoke echo contemporary artists’ themes.
An open book from "Going Dark: The Contemporary Figure at the Edge of Visibility" features three black-and-white portraits—a semi-visible figure in a beanie, a smiling person, and the back of someone's head—reflecting modern artistic themes.
Minimalist black poster for "Going Dark: The Contemporary Figure at the Edge of Visibility," featuring large dark blue "GOING DARK" text on top, a small blue rectangle at center, and the subtitle addressing social visibility at the bottom.
An open book titled "Going Dark: The Contemporary Figure at the Edge of Visibility" displays a photo of a wrinkled, dark hooded sweatshirt lying on a light, textured surface; the minimal background and plain book edges enhance its subtlety.
An open copy of Going Dark: The Contemporary Figure at the Edge of Visibility shows two pages—on the left, a blurred figure stands near smoke with a building behind; on the right, people and smoke echo contemporary artists’ themes.
An open book from "Going Dark: The Contemporary Figure at the Edge of Visibility" features three black-and-white portraits—a semi-visible figure in a beanie, a smiling person, and the back of someone's head—reflecting modern artistic themes.

Going Dark: The Contemporary Figure at the Edge of Visibility

$65.00
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Edited with introduction and text by Ashley James. Text by Abbe Schriber, Ayanna Dozier, Key Jo Lee, Legacy Russell, Jordan Carter. Contributions by Kevin Young, Harmony Holiday, Nontsikelelo Mutiti, Rio Cortez, Kristian Henson, Hassan Rahim, Marwa Helal.

From Dawoud Bey and Lorna Simpson to Sondra Perry and Kerry James Marshall, a multiethnic group of artists explores what it means to be seen, not seen or erased in the world through formal experimentations with the figure

Going Dark brings together a multigenerational group of contemporary artists who engage the "semi-visible" figure—representations that are partially (or fully) obscured, including, in some cases, literally darkened—and suggests that the concept of going dark is a tool that has been used by artists for decades to probe enduring questions surrounding both the potential and the discontents of social visibility. Across mediums—painting, photography, sculpture, video and installation—Going Dark names, charts and makes meaning of the semi-visible figure, arguing for its significance in contemporary art as a genre of unique conceptual and formal power. Approximately 120 works in all of these mediums by more than 25 artists are featured.
Essays by such curators as Legacy Russell and Jordan Carter, and professor Abbe Schriber, among others, contextualize the histories that inspired these works. In addition, four award-winning poets and three acclaimed graphic designers have contributed works.
Artists include: American Artist, Kevin Beasley, Rebecca Belmore, Dawoud Bey, John Edmonds, Ellen Gallagher, David Hammons, Lyle Ashton Harris, Tomashi Jackson, Titus Kaphar, Glenn Ligon, Kerry James Marshall, Tiona Nekkia McClodden, Joiri Minaya, Sandra Mujinga, Chris Ofili, Sondra Perry, Farah Al Qasimi, Faith Ringgold, Doris Salcedo, Lorna Simpson, Sable Elyse Smith, Stephanie Syjuco, Hank Willis Thomas, WangShui, Carrie Mae Weems and Charles White.

  • Publisher: ‎ Guggenheim Museum Publications (December 12, 2023)
  • Language: ‎ English
  • Hardcover: ‎ 256 pages

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