
Aïda Muluneh
The American Dream, (Memory of Hope Series), 2017
photograph printed on Hahnemuehle Photo Rag Bright White
31 1/2 x 31 1/2 in (80 x 80 cm)
Edition 4 of 7
Copyright of the artist
Going back to the exploration of food items used in relation to race in the states, the watermelon has a significant role in its depiction relating to the African-American community....
Going back to the exploration of food items used in relation to race in the states, the watermelon has a significant role in its depiction relating to the African-American community. After emancipation, African-American communities found a viable means of earning income through the growing and selling of watermelons. It was also a symbol of their self-determination and freedom until white southerners started to depict African-Americans with the watermelon in a negative portrayal. In a sense tainting their freedom, which is symbolized by the one fly on the watermelon. The shadow in the back is also a depiction of the fact that things might have changed as it relates to basic liberties but African-Americans still live in the shadow of the past as it relates to lynching (modern version to me is police brutality). Hence, the contradiction of the American dream.
Join our mailing list
* denotes required fields
We will process the personal data you have supplied in accordance with our privacy policy (available on request). You can unsubscribe or change your preferences at any time by clicking the link in our emails.