Stepping into Suite B, DC’s latest exhibiting space tucked behind Union Market, is like entering another world. Visionary Clarence James takes visitors on an unparalleled journey through his latest installation, Exhibit A, which opened on July 11. Serving as a mid-career retrospective, James incorporates multimedia installations conceived from his studies at Howard University, where he earned his BBA. It is a powerful exploration of human emotion and historical analysis through abstract, sculptural, and immersive pieces.
Upon entering the exhibition space, you find yourself face-to-face with abstract portraitures. While there is no clear identifier as to who the portraits are depicting, James describes them as “subliminal and subconscious,” prompting you to contemplate personal connections to and with the faces. In this way, the works blur the lines between the observed and the observer. His abstract pieces challenge conventional perceptions, offering new ways of seeing and understanding the world around us.
Similarly, the sculptural and installation works are visually appealing yet evoke a deeper consideration of their meaning. Mylar blankets, televisions, and cloth represented in the show stand as monuments to human conditions, evolutions, and commodifications, each form meticulously crafted to analyze society. James points out in his cloth installation, Diaspora, “there’s no luxury paradigm for Kente cloth, but there is for designer goods, and a lot of times African patterns inspire the designer goods,” drawing the viewer into an intimate dialogue with the materials and concepts at play.
Amidst the space, viewers are struck by two larger-than-life canvas works which James titles Black Cowboys. Inspired by his fond childhood memory of having a Woody Toy Story doll, it wasn’t until his mid-20s that he acknowledged the importance of having accurate and vast representation through this framework and history. James inserts a refreshing perspective of Black cowboy icons such as Nat Love into this canonical history, amplified through the scale and aesthetic of the works.
Having had the chance to speak with James at the opening, he shared with me that Clarence James’ Exhibit A is a must-see for anyone interested in contemporary art that pushes boundaries and challenges perceptions. It is a testament to the function and power of art in its ability to illuminate the complexities of the human condition. Exhibit A is up at Suite B in the heart of the Union Market District until August 1, 2024. You do not want to miss the opportunity to immerse yourself in the world and mind of Clarence James and experience the profound impact of his work.
