Arthur Jafa in Bloom

Hopefully this artist is innovative enough to deserve all the attention. His photo doesn’t offer much encouragement: the affectation of boredom is but one of the banal cliches foisted upon us by corporate fashion & hip-hop.

His cinematography in Julie Dash's neglected and underrated DAUGHTERS OF THE DUST caresses the skin of the black actors into a visual feast of delicious tones - golden, chocolate, redbone, ebony - a spectrum of rich shades and colors we *never* see in the cinema. This is what this man brings to his art: a deep love for the physical beauty of a beautiful race of people.

I love this article and the artist’s vision. All day I can’t stop wondering what the appropriate response from the white woman should have been to his work? Is compassion and empathy inappropriate? If someone is moved to tears by art is that not the point? Can we not hope they’re changed? Should she not even have gone to see it? Help me grow. Tell me.

Frodo back in the Shire never could feel pleasure again, so he departed across the sea. The book developed this part of the plot far better than the movie.

The man has a surplus of artistic talent.

There cannot be a transference of experience. You experience this, I experience that. We can watch, act, and deliver. Or not. Do you understand me? When will you understand me? I've been patiently waiting to be understood. You have been patiently waiting to be understood. Is change what we're looking for?

Emmett Till whistled? Isn’t this in doubt like so much of the so-called ‘offended’ Carolyn Bryant’s testimony? Carolyn Bryant confessed - decades later - that she made up parts of the story of her accusation against Till. So why is this article reading as if Bryant’s testimony is true? Please correct/modify the language with respect to Till: Till was brutally murdered on the base of a partial or an entire lie.

Important and valuable article that doesn't belong in T-the style magazine but in Arts and Leisure front page or somewhere where people can really see it. However, there is one important (to me) inaccuracy and I quote: "In 1955, Jet magazine published images of the mutilated face of Emmett Till, the 14-year-old who was lynched by two white men in Mississippi a few days after he whistled at the wife of one of the men, helping to catalyze the civil rights movement." The woman who accused Emmet Till recanted her lying testimony at the time (near) her death many years later. Yes, it was in Jet. Yes, it catalyzed civil rights movements, but he DID NOT WHISTLE AT HER. HE WAS FRAMED by the very extravagant and limitless racism that is Mississippi and the United States of White America. Please correct this inaccuracy. The author should know better. Otherwise, thanks for covering a great American artist. I watched "Love is the message, the message is death" seven times in one standing. With each repetition, I sank deeper and deeper in the the message, which to me was American Black people live, have lives, have loves, have cares, and die just for being American Black people. As the New York Times commemorates 1619 on its front page, it should consider its reporting and acknowledgement of that.

"a fool and their money are soon parted..."

suite79, you are wrong. The gentleman is exercising privileges whites have always had, and it's beautiful. Let the scales fall from your eyes.

I had no idea anyone was left on earth like this. Thank you... thank you thank you... and to whoever's taking care of you keeping you in this game this alive: XXXXX etcetera-- --erika lopez, at the end of san francisco and empire

In 2018 A.J. won the Herb Alpert Award in the Arts, a $ 75,000 prize given to a risk-taking mid-career artist*...he blew the panel away with his work. Here are some of his videos and excerpts from interviews: https://herbalpertawards.org/artist/2018/arthur-jafa * Past Herb Alpert winners include Carrie Mae Weems, Suzan-Lori Parks, Michael Rakowitz, Kerry James Marshall, Julia Wolfe, Tania Bruguera, Christian Marclay, Vijay Iyer, Daniel Fish, Lisa Kron, Taylor Mac, Bill Morrison, Cai Guo-Qiang, Ralph Lemon, Reza Abdoh...

Informed historical sensitivity with a mean left hook to jar the brain loose, thank you Arthur Jafa.

Inspirational.

Great profile, will look for the full length "Dreams Are Colder Than Death" and other works highlighted in this article. The arts, book, and style sections of the Times are a respite from the news which is endlessly discouraging. The creation of art from pain provides some hope. Beautiful images of powerful works, particularly the hanging tires. I'm not a huge fan of modern art but those are stunning, even without experiencing the full scale in real life.

A very gifted artist, . . . however, entertaining Art May Be; we need more scientists, engineers, and physicians to close the gaps between Where we are and Where we want to be!

Magnificent Artist, really great article. Artists life Jafa are one in a million.

Both his parents are educators. It is no accident a great and creative mind would flourish. I’m looking forward to his take on the Blues since Mississippi is his birthplace. My mom hails from Mississippi too so I grew up listening to Blues. I’m a Jazz and Blues Radio Host so I’m ecstatic at the cultural literacy flowing from his work.

Great to see increased recognition for Mr. Jafa. My wife and I stumbled across the Serpentine Gallery show in London in 2017 and were blown away. He is a fearless and compassionate artist. His interview with Hans Ulrich Olbrich for the Serpentine Gallery is absolutely fascinating: https://www.serpentinegalleries.org/files/downloads/arthur_jafa_in_conversation.pdf

It's always so nice to see artists profiled. This article is just awesome!

Im looking forward to watching Love is the Message and am particularly geared to see whether there’s any reference to James Tiptree as her excellent sci fi story (love is the plan the plan is death) appears to be an influence at least for the title.

Already was a fan of Jafa's. This confluence of Black culture, interpretation and identity, gospel music, narrative power and so much more has put me over the top -- all things I love. Thanks for featuring him, his work and perspectives. Genius.

I just saw a show Jafa’s work in in Stockholm. It was brilliant and very troubling. To see the jubilant white faces of witnesses and participants to a shockingly brutal lynching of two men is terrifying in the face of what is going on around the world and particularly in America. And that was just one piece in the show. I left in tears. I’m glad to see that Jafa will reach a wider audience.

Arthur Jafa, is a god. His organic and pure artistry is what motivate many to move to his artistic world!

Relentless, intelligent and human. I didn't know about his work until I read this article but I am struck by how he can harness such difficult themes, never losing their (or even enhancing) power and creating such striking beauty. Outrage and disgust are things we don't want to face and forget quickly, but when combined with beauty, linger on and on in a new form. Congratulations to this great man who has struggled yet found an audience for his fantastic work.

A beautiful portrait of a beautiful man

Amazing article pointing me towards work so I have no idea about. Thank you!

Man, I am struck. Upside the head, dropped into the realm of my own foolishness. Knowing now I share unto this foolishness not without shame. A shame so multi-faceted but at the same time a hope. with guidance and a willingness to expose my inside, I have been given hope

The first thing I saw in Arthur Jafa’s eyes is love for life and compassion for the world. When I saw the tires and chains, I saw a representation of how easily I can chain up and go anywhere I want with my whiteness. And the black Incredible Hulk, amazing! Essentially, my favorite question was what if we loved black people as much as we love black culture? Thank you for the beautiful, thought provoking article.

Famous Monsters of Filmland - classic mag from a different time, indeed. Jafa, you are on fire. Congratulations.