The Berman Museum has a new piece by Kara Walker. The description of the exhibit mentions that Walker’s work often looked cartoon-ish from a distance, but when looked at more attentively, depictions of slavery became obvious.

This piece is exactly as the write-up described. It shows the side profile of a black woman, with clouds in the back seemingly overexposing the image. As a result, the woman is only a silhouette. Only her eyes and the shape of her head and her torso are visible.

The woman is facing the right. Three figures are pulling on strings that appear to prop the woman up. Almost like they’re erecting a statue. From the left, two figures are pushing the woman up with their arms. One is an adult-looking figure and the other is more child-like. There is a third figure on the left, though it is standing further out. It appears to be watching the others. It is holding a shovel. There is also what looks like a fire in front of the statue.

I was drawn to this one mostly because an employee told me they were new, which meant I hadn’t seen them yet. The name was familiar, though I don’t think I had seen any of Walker’s work prior to then.

There is a feeling of arduous labor. The people are struggling to hold the main woman up. It’s easier to pull something than to pull, generally speaking. The people on the right are having an easier time compared to people on the left. They have rope, are pulling, and they are bigger.

It gives an almost Sisyphean feel. That the people on the right, who are also not wearing clothes as nice, if any. So, the people on the right see the woman, while the people on the left do all the work, young or old. I took it as commentary on American culture. How people love to see the art and work of black people, but rarely acknowledge the efforts and hoops they jump through. Of course, the figures are all black, so it can be interpreted another way, but given Walker’s tendencies, this is the way I took it.