January 10, 2007

Art and Comics

The bright colors, dark lines, and stylized forms of comics have influenced a new generation of contemporary artists who mix graphic flair with fine-art media. Genre-benders like Inka Essenhigh and Chiho Aoshima create elegant, swirling scenes, while Trenton Doyle Hancock and Gary Panter cultivate grittier narratives. We spotlight California native Taylor McKimens, whose pastel comics and installations depict derelict structures and forlorn homebodies, and we interview Thelma Golden, director of the Studio Museum in Harlem, about the current Africa Comics exhibition. Branching out to animation, we review Paper Rad's retro-assemblage Trash Talking video, and survey shows around the world by other cultural appropriators, including Yinka Shonibare and Kelley Walker.