Untitled?
- Partners for Historical Justice
- Jan 21
- 1 min read
Title
Untitled?
Artist
Unknown
Location
Capital Hill Boys Club Intergenerational Gallery, 16th and Marion Barry Ave, SE, Washington DC
On the Capital Hill Boys Club, see
Description
The DC flag waves in the background over the skyline of Washington DC. A large gray Mecha Robot in an anime style is adjacent to a smaller African American boy in a yellow space suit, tethered to the robot. The red markings on the gray Mecha seem to echo the red stripes and stars of the DC flag. The flag’s central star is positioned just behind the Mecha’s head, which may have some ancient Egyptian design elements.
Interpretive Notes
In some murals in the neighborhood, the skyline of downtown DC, filled with Federal buildings and national monuments, seems remote, distant or imposing. Yet here, the Mecha and his boy pal tower over the skyline, perhaps suggesting that they dominate the city. Perhaps they are the resurgent spirits of “Chocolate City” as DC was once known, when it was a black-majority town.
Prompts for Close Looking
What kind of visual contrast is drawn between the Federal buildings below and the red and white waving flag of DC above?
Why is the city skyline of downtown DC solid black and non-dimensional, whereas the giant Mecha and the Astro-boy are more colorful?
What emotions does the image inspire in you as you look at this work> Is there a playful or humorous mood being set?
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