Hank Willis Thomas: Truth, until June 3, 2016.
About the Exhibition
Brooklyn is one of the most diversely populated areas in the world, bringing together cultures from all corners of the globe. The Truth Is I See You is part of an ongoing series by Brooklyn-based artist Hank Willis Thomas that explores the nature of truth and understanding across cultures. Using the phrases of a poem written in collaboration with artist Ryan Alexiev, the core of the exhibition is a new series of comic book-inspired speech balloon signs that feature universal statements about truth in 22 of the many languages spoken in Brooklyn. Installed along the MetroTech Promenade, each sign also features an English translation of the phrase and is accompanied by a pronunciation guide. Thomas arrived at these translations by working with an extended network of friends to communicate the essence of each English statement, as opposed to a direct translation. Within the Commons, the speech balloon is repeated in new sculptural works: two benches of rolled steel create circular spaces for contemplation, while a large-scale steel tree has branches that seem to grow into thought bubbles. Together these works invite us to approach our different perspectives on truth with a new sense of understanding.
The Truth Booth
In Search of the Truth (The Truth Booth), Thomas’s multi-year collaboration with Ryan Alexiev and Jim Ricks of the Cause Collective, will visit Brooklyn four times during the run of this exhibition. This interactive, mobile video recording booth invites members of the public to complete the statement “The truth is…” from their own perspectives. For more information on dates and locations, Click here.
This exhibition is curated by Andria Hickey
Hank Willis Thomas: The Truth Is I See You at Metrotech Commons is part of an ongoing program organized by Public Art Fund, and sponsored by MetroTech Commons Associates and MetroTech companies including Forest City Ratner Companies, JPMorganChase, National Grid, WellChoice, and Polytechnic Institute of New York University. Special thanks to Forest City Ratner Companies and First New York Partners.
Additional support is provided by Jack Shainman Gallery.
This exhibitions is also supported in part by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council.