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Gordon Shadrach: Trade

Past exhibition
2 - 23 October 2021
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Overview
Gordon Shadrach, Trade

United Contemporary is thrilled to present Trade, a solo exhibition by portrait-artist, Gordon Shadrach. Trade extends the artist’s exploration of Black masculinity and strength, through a new body of work that examines how African Diasporic people were exploited to benefit their oppressors in the American Revolution. This solo exhibition confronts the systems of power that utilizes Black bodies for personal and corporate gain, both historically and in present day. 

 

Through the contrast of historic dress and modern day basketball team jerseys, the portrait artist invites the viewer to enquire into the role of the soldier in battle, and the player in the sports industry. Existing in parallel narratives, the soldier and the player are in positions of personal internal dialogue and external influences which contribute to the individual’s ability to be successful. 

 

Shadrach continues to employ the semiotics of clothing to convey both literal and allegorical messages that brings to light the origin story of the Black Loyalists. Broken promises and unfulfilled contracts underpin 250 years of history, that is rarely acknowledged or spoken of in Canada.

 

Read review of Trade in ByBlacks.com by Byron Armstrong

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  • Gordon Shadrach  News

    Gordon Shadrach

    Permanent Collection at The Art Gallery of Hamilton Oct 27, 2021
    We are proud to announce that the title piece from Gordon Shadrach’s recent solo exhibition ‘Trade’ has been acquired by the Art Gallery of Hamilton....
    Read more
Installation Views
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