Inheritance

June 28, 2023–Feb 4, 2024

Superimposed black and white film photos of a child.

Esta exposición traza la idea de herencia (lo que nos queda o lo que hemos recibido del pasado) a través de líneas familiares, históricas y estéticas. Presentando en su mayoría nuevas adquisiciones y obras rara vez vistas de la colección permanente, la muestra explora las nociones de repetición y referencia, nacimiento y renacimiento, generación y regeneración, mediante una variada selección de obras desde 1970 hasta hoy.

Inspirándose en la película The Inheritance de Ephraim Asili de 2020, Herencia se acerca al relato desde diversos niveles, entrelazando narrativa con documentales y experiencias personales con eventos históricos y generacionales. La exhibición considera múltiples significados de herencia, ya sean celebratorios o dolorosos, de una era, persona o de una idea a otra. Un grupo de obras que abre la muestra, examinan el ciclo del nacimiento hasta la muerte, mientras que otras galerías exploran diferentes tipos de linajes, como las maneras en que los artistas toman prestada de la historia del arte y la reescriben, o revelan legados de violencia racial y sus recurrencias.

La poeta Rio Cortez habla de estar “enmarcados por nuestro conocimiento futuro”, incluso mientras nos ubicamos en este momento temporal, nos desplazamos hacia atrás y hacia adelante, pensando no sólo en nuestras antepasadas, sino también en los descendientes que nunca vamos a conocer. Las pinturas, esculturas, videos, fotografías e instalaciones aquí reunidas plantean preguntas sobre lo que nos fue transmitido y cómo podría desplazarse, cambiar o vivir de nuevo. Más que una aceptación pasiva del estado actual de las cosas, los artistas en la exposición nos piden ponderar qué ideas y experiencias pueden estar detrás de lo que vemos o creemos saber. Fundamentalmente, ¿cómo llegamos aquí, como individuos y sociedad, y hacia dónde nos dirigimos?

Press Highlights

“The thematic content of the show is ambitious, ranging from slavery and the Great Migration to Covid, African religious traditions, the human lifespan, colonization and the sources of artistic creativity.” —The Guardian

“The show considers some of the painful and difficult legacies that have shaped our society…” —Aesthetica Magazine

“...a captivating group show at the Whitney” —Whitewall

“This is an exhibition that raises a number of questions about how we as individuals respond to our world…” —Highbrow Magazine

Installation photography

Installation view of Inheritance (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, June 28, 2023—February, 2024). From left to right: Mary Kelly, Antepartum, 1973; Sadie Barnette, Family Tree II, 2022. Photograph by Ron Amstutz
Installation view of Inheritance (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, June 28, 2023—February, 2024.). From left to right: Deana Lawson, The Garden, Gemena, DR Congo, 2015; Diedrick Brackens, they spring from the embers of my mouth, 2019; Sadie Barnette, Family Tree II, 2022. Photograph by Ron Amstutz
Installation view of Inheritance (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, June 28, 2023—February, 2024). From left to right: Maggie Lee, Mommy, 2012-15; Wakeah Jhane, Grandmother’s Prayers, 2021; Widline Cadet, Sé Sou Ou Mwen Mété Espwa m #1 (I Put All My Hopes On You #1), 2021; [top] Dindga McCannon, Pregnant Woman, 1977; [bottom] Dindga McCannon, Father & Son, 1981; [right] Dindga McCannon, Summer, 1972; Jonathan Lyndon Chase, Run away with me, 2019. Photograph by Ron Amstutz
Installation view of Inheritance (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, June 28, 2023—February, 2024.). From left to right: Deana Lawson, The Garden, Gemena, DR Congo, 2015; Diedrick Brackens, they spring from the embers of my mouth, 2019; Emily Jacir, Munir, 2001-03; Bruce and Norman Yonemoto, Environmental, 1993; Sophie Rivera, I am U, 1995; Sophie Rivera, Terracotta Goddess, n.d.; Kevin Jerome Everson, Ninety-Three, 2008. Photograph by Ron Amstutz
Installation view of Inheritance (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, June 28, 2023—February, 2024.). From left to right: Hank Willis Thomas, Strike, 2018; Carissa Rodriguez, Not Yet Titled (Red Curve), 2015; Lorraine O’Grady, Rivers, First Draft, 1982, printed 2015. Photograph by Ron Amstutz
Installation view of Inheritance (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, June 28, 2023—February, 2024.). From left to right: Carissa Rodriguez, Not Yet Titled (Red Curve), 2015; Wade Guyton, Untitled Action Sculpture (Breuer), 2003; [in back] Lorraine O’Grady, Rivers, First Draft, 1982, printed 2015; Hank Willis Thomas, Strike, 2018; Joan Wallace, Bob’s your Uncle, 1991. Photograph by Ron Amstutz
Installation view of Inheritance (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, June 28, 2023—February, 2024). From left to right: Todd Gray, Onisimo / Leopold, 2019; Kambui Olujimi, Your King Is on Fire, 2020; Pat Phillips, The Farm, 2018. Photograph by Ron Amstutz
Installation view of Inheritance (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, June 28, 2023—February, 2024.). From left to right: An-My Lê, Monument, General P.G.T. Beauregard, New Orleans, Louisiana, 2016; Chitra Ganesh, Sultana’s Dream, 2018. Photograph by Ron Amstutz
Installation view of Inheritance (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, June 28, 2023—February, 2024). From left to right: Kevin Beasley, The Road, 2019; Cameron Rowland, Lynch Law in America, 2021; Cameron Rowland, Life and Property, 2021; Andrea Carlson, Red Exit, 2020; Kambui Olujimi, Hart Island Crew, 2020. Photograph by Ron Amstutz
Installation view of Inheritance (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, June 28, 2023—February, 2024.). From left to right: An-My Lê, Monument, General P.G.T. Beauregard, New Orleans, Louisiana, 2016; Faith Ringgold, United States of Attica, 1971; Kevin Beasley, The Road, 2019; Pat Phillips, The Farm, 2018. Photograph by Ron Amstutz
Installation view of Inheritance (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, June 28, 2023—February, 2024.). From left to right: Andrea Carlson, Red Exit, 2020; Mary Beth Edelson, Shell Venus, 1974-75; Mary Beth Edelson, Red Sophia, 1974-75; Mary Beth Edelson, Louise, 1974-75. Photograph by Ron Amstutz
Installation view of Inheritance (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, June 28, 2023—February, 2024). From left to right: Carrie Mae Weems, Sea Islands, 1992; David Hartt, Archive at the Johnson Publishing Company Headquarters, Chicago, Illinois, 2011, printed 2013; John Outterbridge, The Elder, Ethnic Heritage Series, 1971-72. Photograph by Ron Amstutz
Installation view of Inheritance (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, June 28, 2023—February, 2024). Ephraim Asili, The Inheritance, 2020. Photograph by Ron Amstutz
Installation view of Inheritance (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, June 28, 2023—February, 2024). Sturtevant, Gonzalez-Torres Untitled (Blue Placebo), 2004. Photograph by Ron Amstutz