by Patricia Frischer
Pretty paper dresses in lovely colors, fancy shoes with glitter and bows are all very seductive eye candy. But go to this exhibition to see much, much more. Fabiola Jean-Louis is working with concepts on levels that are so much deeper. She is not only placing black women in history in all sorts of scenarios, some real, some where they are empowered with a fantasy of what could or should have been. With her black and white photos, you feel pride even through the degradation of a situation. You are reminded of the dignity of a tribal race. In her own words, Jean-Louis says she, "vandalizes history" to create her images and sculptures.And then their are the corsets that open up to depict more theatrical stories. Just like her doll-like house that allows you to peer into a space like Alice in Wonderland after drinking the bottle to make her large, you can peer beneath the surface of these breast plates. I first saw a white rodent silhouette hanging from a branch like a slave caught after trying to escape. Then the real slave is there wrapped in chains so there is no mistake.
In studio and on exhibit until Sat. Nov 2, 2019 at Lux Art Institute
