The Power of Racism and Industry

Artist: Kara Walker

Title: A Subtlety

Date: 2014

Medium: Sugar

Provenance: Brooklyn,U.S.

Source: creativetime.org

Describe: This piece is a massive entirely sugar made sculpture exhibit focused on the workers behind sugar making. The piece depicts young African American children doing various jobs throughout the factory while a huge bleached white sphinx sits in the middle of all the work. 

Analyze: Walker uses the contrast between the small black children against the huge white sphinx to put emphasis on racism. The small children are always depicted leaning as if bearing a great weight while clothed in small shorts. The round lines on the children's stomach and arms emphasize the fact that they are young children with bodies similar to that of a toddler. The rough surface of the children contrasts highly with the smooth unflappable look of the sphinx. The child laborers are scattered throughout the Domino's sugar factory as though they were real workers with the sphinx settled on her stomach in the middle. A sphinx was typically considered a crafty, manipulative Greek monster who would ask men a riddle that if they did not answer correctly she would eat them. The sphinx's expressions seems patronizing and looks not down on the workers but straight ahead as if they are beneath her notice. A bandana is tied around her head and she seems to be the mother of all these workers; she represents the industry and the children the laborers. 

Interpret: The message behind this piece is clear; slavery and child labor are wrong but practiced regardless for the sake of industry. The difference in size and color also have to deal with how slavery back then has just evolved into a new legal form. The white sphinx lording over all definitely screams white supremacy and the small child laborers seem to have to blindly serve the queen that is industry. 

Judge: This is a wonderful piece that seems extremely appropriate in the setting of a slowly decomposing Dominos Sugar factory. The use of sugar as a medium is brilliant and challenging as well as the artists depiction of child labor and racism. The work that went into this piece was well executed and clearly displayed the artist's intent.