Here Mickalene Thomas recreates French artist Edouard Manet’s 1863 painting “Le dejeuner sur l’herbe” which translates to “Lunch on the grass” that depicts a naked European woman sitting in front of two fully clothed men. I can appreciate Thomas’ own ideals in this piece and her choice to clothe the female figures depicted. To me this shows the dominance and confidence among such a sister circle, while saving the nude commentary for more intimate living spaces she illustrates in her originals concepts.
This particular exhibit was one of those wow moments in art for me. I traveled all the way to Toronto in January for starters. It was about 20 degrees and I was alone (figuratively speaking). I stepped off the elevator at the Art Gallery of Ontario and my vision, my emotion, and my translation of sound went to three different corners of the room. I see Static and bright hues; yellow dim lights and female form. I see obvious familiar female faces, and then a few I “could know”.
Mickalene Thomas’ work is the epitome of the black female being in all families. The aunties, the mothers and grandmothers of our histories. The representation of matriarchy in black families is so important, and she archives that in her work very well. I felt like I was in a living room I had visited often as a child, all that was missing was the smell of peppermints and white diamonds. The mix of 70’s fashion fabrics and gaudy rhinestones represents those dwellings perfectly.