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The illusion is that most of my work is simply about past events: a point in history and nothing else.

- Kara Walker
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Author:
Kara Walker
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Work
History
Illusion
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I have no interest in making a work that doesn't elicit a feeling.

I know that in my family there are histories of violence that are internal family things and that are oftentimes dealt with internally. By internally, I mean inside the family group, but also partly inside ourselves. You know, self-hatred and hostility and rage and this cycle that won't break.

A lot of what I was wanting to do in my work and what I have been doing has been about the unexpected... that unexpected situation of wanting to be the heroine and yet wanting to kill the heroine at the same time.

It feels like a game, this work I do. It is totally heartfelt, and I love the sticky terrain, the straight-up cartoons, how the irrepressible and icky rise to the surface. But I am not just trying to call forth bugaboos and demons for the sake of it, for fun.

I guess there was a little bit of a slight rebellion, maybe a little bit of a renegade desire that made me realize at some point in my adolescence that I really liked pictures that told stories of things - genre paintings, historical paintings - the sort of derivatives we get in contemporary society.

I trust my hand. If I go into a space with a roll of paper, I can make a work, some kind of work, and feel pretty satisfied.

To be a truly conscientious artist, you have to look at what's not working and challenge it. You riff on things.

I'm a sponge for historical images of black people and black history on film.

I know that in my family there are histories of violence that are internal family things and that are oftentimes dealt with internally. By internally, I mean inside the family group, but also partly inside ourselves. You know, self-hatred and hostility and rage and this cycle that won't break.

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The illusion is that most of my work is simply about past events: a point in history and nothing else.

The illusion is that most of my work is simply about past events: a point in history and nothing else.

The illusion is that most of my work is simply about past events: a point in history and nothing else.

The illusion is that most of my work is simply about past events: a point in history and nothing else.

The illusion is that most of my work is simply about past events: a point in history and nothing else.

The illusion is that most of my work is simply about past events: a point in history and nothing else.

The illusion is that most of my work is simply about past events: a point in history and nothing else.

The illusion is that most of my work is simply about past events: a point in history and nothing else.

The illusion is that most of my work is simply about past events: a point in history and nothing else.

The illusion is that most of my work is simply about past events: a point in history and nothing else.

The illusion is that most of my work is simply about past events: a point in history and nothing else.

The illusion is that most of my work is simply about past events: a point in history and nothing else.

The illusion is that most of my work is simply about past events: a point in history and nothing else.

The illusion is that most of my work is simply about past events: a point in history and nothing else.

The illusion is that most of my work is simply about past events: a point in history and nothing else.