Ben
Artist: Faith Ringgold (American, born 1930)
Date: about 1978
Dimensions:
39 × 12 × 12 in. (99.1 × 30.5 × 30.5 cm)
Medium: Soft sculpture/mixed media
Classification: Sculpture
Credit Line: Gift of Barbara Sunderman Hoerner
Object number: 2012.12
Label Text:Faith Ringgold's art reflects her status as a strong activist and Black feminist. Born, raised, and educated in Harlem, Ringgold began her artistic career as a painter but, her work has gone on to include performance art, social realism, soft sculpture, children’s books, and painted Story Quilts – art that combines painting, quilted fabric, and storytelling.
Ben is related to the 'soft-sculpture' movement that was popularized in the 1960s by such artists as Claes Oldenberg, Annette Messager, and Hans Bellmer; however Ringgold's work is infused with socio/economic/racial undertones generally not present in other artist's work. Using the cross cultural and generational traditions of woman’s fabric work and storytelling, Ringgold has produced, in works like Ben, art that blends social commentary with a flokart sensibility creating a powerful yet approachable aesthetic.
The sculpture represents a ‘street’ person or beggar wearing a ‘Hawaiian’ shirt. Racial and socio/economic stereotypes abound as the figure holds a bottle of liquor in one hand while the other hand cups a number of coins. Numerous socio/political buttons and patches, in particular, patches and insignia suggesting military service, cover the front of the figure. A string of keys (perhaps signifying a false sense of belonging?) hangs from a twisted wire affixed to a neck chain; while a crucifix, a symbol of redemption, hangs from a second chain.
Ben is related to the 'soft-sculpture' movement that was popularized in the 1960s by such artists as Claes Oldenberg, Annette Messager, and Hans Bellmer; however Ringgold's work is infused with socio/economic/racial undertones generally not present in other artist's work. Using the cross cultural and generational traditions of woman’s fabric work and storytelling, Ringgold has produced, in works like Ben, art that blends social commentary with a flokart sensibility creating a powerful yet approachable aesthetic.
The sculpture represents a ‘street’ person or beggar wearing a ‘Hawaiian’ shirt. Racial and socio/economic stereotypes abound as the figure holds a bottle of liquor in one hand while the other hand cups a number of coins. Numerous socio/political buttons and patches, in particular, patches and insignia suggesting military service, cover the front of the figure. A string of keys (perhaps signifying a false sense of belonging?) hangs from a twisted wire affixed to a neck chain; while a crucifix, a symbol of redemption, hangs from a second chain.
DescriptionRepresentation of a bearded African-American male
Not on view
In Collection(s)