Sanford Biggers: Difference between revisions

Biggers first received critical attention when his collaborative work with David Ellis, ''Mandala of the B-Bodhisattva II'', was included in the exhibition "Freestyle", curated by [[Thelma Golden]] at the [[Studio Museum in Harlem]] in 2001.<ref>Lesage, Dieter & Wudtke, Ina. "Black Sound White Cube." Löcker Verlag (June 11, 2010).</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Bleckner |first=Ross |url=http://bombsite.com/issues/107/articles/3266 |title=BOMB Magazine: Rashid Johnson by Sanford Biggers |publisher=Bombsite.com |date= |accessdate=2010-07-15}}</ref><ref name="artnews1">{{Cite web |last=Yablonsky |first=Linda |url=http://www.artnews.com/issues/article.asp?art_id=1096 |title=ARTnews |publisher=ARTnews |accessdate=2010-07-15 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101025200928/http://artnews.com/issues/article.asp?art_id=1096 |archivedate=2010-10-25 }}</ref> Since, his works have been presented internationally including the [[Tate Modern]] in London, the [[Renaissance Society]] in Chicago,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.renaissancesociety.org/site/Exhibitions/Intro.The-Here-and-Now.35.html|title=Sanford Biggers at the Renaissance Society|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20120908132651/http://www.renaissancesociety.org/site/Exhibitions/Intro.The-Here-and-Now.35.html|archivedate=2012-09-08}}</ref> Prospect 1 in New Orleans and the [[Whitney Biennial]], [[the Kitchen]] and Performa 07 (curated by [[Roselee Goldberg]]) in New York.<ref name="autogenerated1"/><ref name="artnews1"/><ref name="artforum1">{{Cite web|url=http://artforum.com/new.php?id=23725&pn=archive |title=/ archive |publisher=Artforum.com |date= |accessdate=2010-07-15}}</ref> Biggers's art frequently references African-American [[ethnography]], [[hip hop music]], [[Buddhism]], African spirituality, Indo-European [[West African Vodun|Vodoun]], [[jazz]], [[Afrofuturism]], urban culture and icons from [[Americana (culture)|Americana]].<ref name="berkeley1">{{Cite web |url=http://www.bampfa.berkeley.edu/exhibition/197 |title=BAM/PFA - Art Exhibitions - Sanford Biggers / MATRIX 197 |publisher=Bampfa.berkeley.edu |accessdate=2010-07-15 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100611215120/http://www.bampfa.berkeley.edu/exhibition/197 |archivedate=2010-06-11 }}</ref><ref name="sbcaf1">{{Cite web|author=Santa Barbara Contemporary Arts Forum |url=http://www.sbcaf.org/exhibitions/past/archive2010/Mar_2010.html |title=• Santa Barbara Contemporary Arts Forum &#124;&#124; EXHIBITIONS • |publisher=Sbcaf.org |date= |accessdate=2010-07-15}}</ref><ref name="whitehotmagazine1">{{Cite web|url=http://whitehotmagazine.com/articles/2010-interview-with-sanford-biggers/2054 |title=WM &#124; whitehot magazine of contemporary art &#124; April 2010, Interview with Sanford Biggers |publisher= |date= |accessdate=2010-07-15}}</ref><ref name="autogenerated2">{{Cite web |url=http://www.vcu.edu/arts/paintingprintmaking/dept/solventSpace.html |title=Bachelors Degree Program |publisher=Vcu.edu |accessdate=2010-07-15 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100707093732/http://www.vcu.edu/arts/paintingprintmaking/dept/solventSpace.html |archivedate=2010-07-07 }}</ref> He claimshas tosaid placethat he places "no hierarchy on chronology, references or media"<ref name="timeout1">{{Cite web|url=http://newyork.timeout.com/articles/art/70814/sanford-biggers |title=Sanford Biggers - Time Out New York |publisher= |date= |accessdate=2010-07-15}}</ref> and his work has been characterized by meditation and improvisation.<ref name="autogenerated2"/> He says his themes are "meant to broaden and complicate our read on American history." He also uses syncretism to highlight the interconnectedness of seemly disparate cultural practices.<ref name="berkeley1"/><ref name="sbcaf1"/> In order to make the viewer an active element, Biggers often turns his sculptures into performances.<ref name="timeout1"/>