“Infamous” by Andres Serrano was on view from 22 October 2020 to 27 February 2021 at Fotografiska New York.
In a cultural era where confrontations with historical injustice provoke both introspection and societal upheaval, Andres Serrano’s exhibition Infamous at Fotografiska New York boldly engages viewers in an unapologetic exploration of America’s deeply ingrained racism. Through a provocative curatorial lens, Serrano presents an unsettling narrative constructed from photographs of everyday artifacts, posters, and historical documents, each echoing past prejudices and ongoing struggles. The exhibition weaves an interconnected journey highlighting omnipresent racism, revealing how racial biases infiltrated every facet of American life—from entertainment and domestic products to overt acts of violence. In evoking artifacts ranging from Ku Klux Klan robes to degrading caricatures found in consumer products, Serrano underscores that the specter of racism is woven into America’s very fabric. Serrano’s stark portrayal demands reflection not just on historical atrocities but also on contemporary implications, challenging the viewer to acknowledge and confront a shared complicity.
Andres Serrano, renowned for his provocative oeuvre, consistently engages with themes that unsettle and provoke critical discourse. Born in 1950 in New York to Honduran and Haitian parents, Serrano navigates topics such as religion, sexuality, and mortality with unflinching clarity. His controversial yet influential works, including the incendiary 1987 photograph Piss Christ, continue to ignite intense debate over artistic freedom and societal norms. Serrano’s Infamous extends this dialogue into America’s racial dynamics, reinforcing his position as an incisive commentator on controversial social realities.
Serrano’s artwork “Old Glory I-II” encapsulates America’s paradoxical history through a torn and ragged 48-star flag, emblematic of a nation scarred by persistent racism long after slavery’s formal abolition. The distressed flag symbolizes a nation grappling with its tarnished ideals, visibly embodying the era’s heightened Ku Klux Klan influence during the 1920s. Through visual deterioration, Serrano compellingly evokes the ongoing fractures within American identity and unity.
The piece “Black Face, Ku Klux Klan Hood and Mask, 1940s” confronts viewers with a disturbing juxtaposition, a hood painted black, merging the racially charged tradition of blackface performances with symbols of white supremacy. Serrano effectively highlights how racial caricatures served to demean and ridicule Black identities systematically, underpinning the broader social narrative of exclusion and degradation.
“Indian In A Cupboard” critiques the commercial exploitation of Indigenous imagery, highlighting colonialism’s lingering impacts. Serrano’s arrangement of household products, casually adorned with images of Native Americans, underscores the normalization of racial stereotypes in American consumerism. This disturbing familiarity prompts critical introspection regarding cultural appropriation and historical erasure.
In “Cotton Picker Corn Whiskey“, Serrano directly engages with the economic roots of racial oppression through an innocuous yet profoundly symbolic whiskey bottle. By highlighting cotton picking, synonymous with slavery’s brutal legacy, Serrano exposes the insidious normalization of racism through everyday commodities, underscoring the pervasive societal indifference toward historical suffering.
Serrano exposes the insidious normalization of racism through everyday commodities, underscoring the pervasive societal indifference toward historical suffering.
The strength of Infamous lies in its cohesive and confrontational narrative. Serrano’s carefully selected artifacts challenge viewers through stark juxtapositions, effectively using the space of Fotografiska New York to enhance the contemplative and unsettling visitor experience. By interweaving visual history with contemporary racial discourses, the exhibition powerfully prompts visitors to reconsider their roles in perpetuating or challenging societal biases. Infamous significantly enriches contemporary dialogues on race, positioning Serrano’s provocative artistic narrative as both culturally enlightening and urgently necessary.
Through its compelling and often discomforting presentation, Infamous profoundly impacts audiences, confronting them with unsettling truths about America’s racial history and contemporary society. Serrano’s uncompromising vision challenges viewers to move beyond passive recognition toward active reflection and dialogue, affirming the critical role of art in societal transformation. The exhibition is a stark reminder that the path toward genuine progress demands confronting past injustices and recognizing their echoes in the present.
