Thomas's mother is a Photographer and an Art historian. He was really influenced by his mother but did not decide he wanted to be an artist until he was grown up. They did a beautiful collaboration piece together called, "Sometimes I see myself in you" where they combined their portraits together.
Sometime i see myself in you, 2008 Digital C Print 50" x 21"
Thomas's work as so much to do with branding. Branding with the interest that simple advertisement and imagery can build a billion dollar business. Thomas appropriates branding techniques to convey subjects of race, class and history in a easy to read and convey form. Here are a few examples where Thomas uses common advertisements to make a statement about the relationships or today to the times of slavery. Specifically the practice of branding of slaves, and the way that we are all branded by name brands today.
Branded Head, 2003, Light jet print, varible Scarred Chest, 2004, Lightjet Print, varible
Hank Willis Thomas's work ranges from pieces like the ones above to ones where he deals with advertisements from years past, he deals with the beauty of black women and how the trends change. He works with concepts risen from the murder of his close cousin. The best thing about this artist is the way he speaks and how he is not looking for justification for things that happened in the past, but he makes connections between the past and things today. If anything I think this man is a bridge to understand the difference, or more the like lack of difference there is between people of different colors or backgrounds. We are all people.
At the end of his lecture I think we were all amazed by the video called "Along the way." It is a portrait of America. Watch a piece of it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-1AZi7AUzE
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