A New Exhibition Challenges the Legacy of Confederate Monuments
At MOCA Geffen and The Brick, a provocative new exhibition is reexamining the role of Confederate monuments in American society. "Monuments" is an unflinching exploration of the blurred lines between history and propaganda, highlighting how these statues have been used to promote a myth of white supremacy.
The exhibition features 18 decommissioned monuments, including bronze ingots that once proudly displayed the likenesses of Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson, two figures celebrated by the Confederacy for their role in defending slavery. These monuments now stand as testaments to a dark period in American history, one marked by systemic racism and oppression.
Commissioned artworks, such as Bethany Collins's reimagined Confederate flag and Karon Davis's exploration of the relationship between monument-making and trauma, serve as powerful counterpoints to the original statues. By presenting these works alongside the decommissioned monuments, "Monuments" forces viewers to confront the complex and often disturbing history that underlies these symbols.
Kara Walker, an artist known for her unflinching critiques of racism and white supremacy, has created a new piece entitled "Unmanned Drone," which deconstructs the Stonewall Jackson monument. By separating man from horse and myth, Walker's work offers a searing indictment of the Lost Cause ideology, which has long been used to justify racism and oppression.
The exhibition also highlights the ways in which Confederate monuments have become targets of groups who see them as symbols of white supremacy. In response, some argue that decommissioning these monuments erases history, but "Monuments" suggests otherwise. By presenting these statues alongside artworks that challenge their narratives, the exhibition reveals the myth of valor that underpins the Confederacy's Lost Cause ideology.
The Trump administration's recent attacks on cultural and educational institutions that support diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives have only served to underscore the urgent need for this kind of critical examination. As the Supreme Court is poised to gut the Voting Rights Act of 1965, effectively nullifying Black votes through redistricting, "Monuments" serves as a powerful reminder of the ongoing struggle for racial justice in America.
Ultimately, "Monuments" is an exhibition that challenges viewers to confront their own assumptions about history and propaganda. By presenting these statues alongside artworks that subvert and challenge their narratives, it offers a searing indictment of white supremacy and a call to action for a more just and equitable society.
At MOCA Geffen and The Brick, a provocative new exhibition is reexamining the role of Confederate monuments in American society. "Monuments" is an unflinching exploration of the blurred lines between history and propaganda, highlighting how these statues have been used to promote a myth of white supremacy.
The exhibition features 18 decommissioned monuments, including bronze ingots that once proudly displayed the likenesses of Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson, two figures celebrated by the Confederacy for their role in defending slavery. These monuments now stand as testaments to a dark period in American history, one marked by systemic racism and oppression.
Commissioned artworks, such as Bethany Collins's reimagined Confederate flag and Karon Davis's exploration of the relationship between monument-making and trauma, serve as powerful counterpoints to the original statues. By presenting these works alongside the decommissioned monuments, "Monuments" forces viewers to confront the complex and often disturbing history that underlies these symbols.
Kara Walker, an artist known for her unflinching critiques of racism and white supremacy, has created a new piece entitled "Unmanned Drone," which deconstructs the Stonewall Jackson monument. By separating man from horse and myth, Walker's work offers a searing indictment of the Lost Cause ideology, which has long been used to justify racism and oppression.
The exhibition also highlights the ways in which Confederate monuments have become targets of groups who see them as symbols of white supremacy. In response, some argue that decommissioning these monuments erases history, but "Monuments" suggests otherwise. By presenting these statues alongside artworks that challenge their narratives, the exhibition reveals the myth of valor that underpins the Confederacy's Lost Cause ideology.
The Trump administration's recent attacks on cultural and educational institutions that support diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives have only served to underscore the urgent need for this kind of critical examination. As the Supreme Court is poised to gut the Voting Rights Act of 1965, effectively nullifying Black votes through redistricting, "Monuments" serves as a powerful reminder of the ongoing struggle for racial justice in America.
Ultimately, "Monuments" is an exhibition that challenges viewers to confront their own assumptions about history and propaganda. By presenting these statues alongside artworks that subvert and challenge their narratives, it offers a searing indictment of white supremacy and a call to action for a more just and equitable society.
It's like they're saying, "Hey, we know these statues have been problematic, but let's put them in the same room as some powerful art that tells a different story." That's like giving people permission to question what they thought they knew about the past. And honestly, I think that's super healthy for our society right now 
The way she takes apart the myth of Stonewall Jackson and separates man from horse is like, totally genius. It's not always easy to see these symbols for what they really are, but this exhibit makes it feel way more manageable.
The Trump administration's attacks on diversity initiatives have been super concerning, so it feels like "Monuments" is giving us a much-needed reminder that our history is still being shaped by the same problems. Anyway, I'm totally hyped for this exhibit! 
! It's about time we reexamine the role of Confederate monuments in our society #TruthToPower. I mean, think about it - these statues were used to promote a whole lot of hurtful propaganda #NoToRacism. The way they're presented alongside commissioned artworks that challenge their narratives is pure genius 
! It's like, we need to confront the dark history behind these symbols and not just leave them standing there collecting dust #TakeDownTheMonuments. And can we talk about how this exhibition serves as a powerful reminder of the ongoing struggle for racial justice in America? We still got so much work to do 
. I mean, we've all been conditioned to think of Confederate monuments as harmless relics of the past, but this exhibit shows us that they're actually part of a broader narrative that's still being perpetuated today.
. With the Trump administration attacking diversity initiatives and the Supreme Court poised to gut the Voting Rights Act, it's clear that we need critical examination like this now more than ever. This exhibit is a reminder that our society is still grappling with issues of racism and oppression, and we need art and activism to push us forward 
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. Karon Davis's exploration of monument-making and trauma, for example, offers a powerful commentary on the ways in which our cultural institutions can both hurt and heal us. And Kara Walker's "Unmanned Drone" piece is just plain devastating 
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. We need to acknowledge the pain and suffering those statues represent instead of ignoring it.
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. Kara Walker's new piece "Unmanned Drone" is giving me LIFE 
. we need more art like this that challenges our assumptions & forces us to confront the dark history that we've been ignoring for too long 
. anyone else planning on checking out "Monuments"?? 
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. Like, no way – we're just finally starting to see the truth about what those monuments really represent.
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. and whats next, takin down world wars ii & iii memorials 4 bein part a genocidal regimes? gotta set boundaries ppl 
. I swear it was like it was trying to photobomb me! Anyway, back to these Confederate monuments... have you ever noticed how some statues are just literally holding onto their history for dear life? Like, can't they just let go and move on with their lives? 
I mean, it's not just about the statues themselves but the whole narrative around them - how they've been used to promote a twisted idea of American history that erases Black lives and experiences. The artwork that's being created to counter this is truly powerful 
. And can we talk about how the Trump administration's attacks on diversity initiatives are just exacerbating the problem? Like, what even is the point of all this if we're not gonna address the root issues? 