Who Can Buy Black Art? Navigating Accessibility and Ownership in the Art Market

I recently had the pleasure of attending the captivating "In the Black Fantastic" talk in Rotterdam, an event expertly hosted by the esteemed Ekow Eshun and Ellen Gallagher.

"IN THE BLACK FANTASTIC" IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE EXHIBITIONS OF LAST YEAR. I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO ENJOY IT IN LONDON, IN THE MAGNIFICENT SPACE THAT IS THE HAYWARD GALLERY.

THIS WONDERFUL EXHIBITION BRINGS TOGETHER ARTWORKS THAT EMBRACE IDEAS OF THE MYTHICAL AND THE SPECULATIVE AND PRESENTS A CULTURAL MOVEMENT THAT EVOKES VISIONS OF ANOTHER WORLD FROM THE EVERYDAY EXPERIENCE OF BLACK PEOPLE.

I MUST ADMIT, HOWEVER, THAT I STRUGGLED WITH THE TITLE, AND IN PARTICULAR WITH THE WORD 'FANTASTIC'. IS IT MEANT TO EVOKE THE IMAGE OF THE FOUR BELOVED FANTASISTS, OR IS IT A SYNONYM FOR EXCELLENCE? BOTH INTERPRETATIONS CONFUSED ME AND MADE ME FEEL UNEASY.

The perpetuation of an ideology such as meritocracy behind the motto "excellence" is problematic. As we all know, nothing is granted to an individual according to their talent and efforts, but mostly according to their wealth and social class.

In my opinion, excellence is nothing more than an accolade awarded to Black people and people of color who align themselves with the principles of white supremacy. Those who are unwilling to challenge the status quo, those around whom white people feel protected, and those who are offered a certain social status for betraying the masses they were supposed to represent.

Individuals who are not distinguished, empowered, or dignified by this term turn their economic, social, and political frustrations against themselves and their community, both physically and psychologically. This results in high rates of depression, suicidal thoughts, disorders, a lack of self-esteem, and impostor syndrome in minority communities.

EXCELLENCE MAKES US BELIEVE THAT WE ONLY DESERVE HUMANITY WHEN WE ARE EXCEPTIONAL

“WHY DO BLACK PEOPLE ALWAYS FEEL THE NEED TO BE EXCELLENT ?

“WHY CAN'T WE JUST BE OURSELVES ? 

SLIM IN QUEEN & SLIM by MELINA MATSOUKAS 

What's even more disturbing to me is the feeling that these exhibitions, possibly due to their location, always seem to stem from a passionate desire to prove something to the empire. "Look at us, we can do it too. Look at us, we have talent too."

Lately, a fundamental question has been on my mind: Who can access and own Black art?

Black art has become a trending topic in recent years, driven by white guilt and the "Black Lives Matter" movement. As a result, prices have risen, making Black artwork unaffordable for a young collector like myself.

I interpret this as a new method for the empire to keep wealth out of reach and inaccessible to Black individuals, while also satisfying its primal urge to appropriate Black culture.

Do you recall that scene in M. Night Shyamalan's "Unbreakable"?

In the movie, Elijah (played by Samuel L. Jackson) owns a comic book gallery filled with original drawings, and a businessman (M. Night Shyamalan) enters to purchase his art. Elijah explains how the artwork holds significant importance in the legacy of comics.

"IT'S A CLASSIC REPRESENTATION OF GOOD VERSUS EVIL. NOTICE THE SQUARE JAW OF THE SLAYER, COMMON TO MOST COMIC BOOK HEROES. AND THE SLIGHTLY DISPROPORTIONATE SIZE OF THE JAGUARO'S BODY COMPARED TO HIS HEAD. AGAIN, THIS IS COMMON, BUT ONLY IN VILLAINS... THE THING TO NOTICE ABOUT THIS PIECE... THE THING THAT MAKES IT VERY, VERY SPECIAL... IS THE REALISTIC REPRESENTATION OF ITS CHARACTERS. WHEN THE CHARACTERS WERE FINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE MAGAZINE, THEY WERE EXAGGERATED... AS IT ALWAYS HAPPENS."

The businessman proceeds to purchase the artwork, and Elijah goes to the back of his store to prepare the package. As he overhears the businessman say, "My child is going to be very happy," Elijah stops, turns around, and nervously starts asking questions about the businessman's child. "How old is your child?" he inquires. The businessman replies, "Four years old."

Elijah strongly shakes his head and rejects the sale of the artwork.

How can a four-year-old understand the subtlety, complexity, and importance of this art?

This is precisely how I feel when I see Empire acquiring our artwork. I struggle to comprehend how Black art could find a comfortable place in the living rooms, homes, or offices of Empire.