The Exhibition
FOTUNA AND THE IMMORTALITY GARDEN -MACHINE.
Kara Walker New Works on view at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art – SFMOMA, is a large public installation titled ‘Fortuna and the Immortality Garden – Machine.’ The installation explores a wide range of concerns about living in a city, life and death, what happens to the human soul after death, new technology, and the stories begin.
The artist explained the ideas for the work began during the covid lockdown, and her thoughts about living in a Black body and its abstractions, including the black body and its cyborg automatons. A total of 8 archetypical figures populates the centre of the garden. A lone standing figure ‘Fortuna’ offers absolution for the visitors to the show. .
In a future that is powered by A.I. the histories of domination and control remain the same in the present times. Relief from this torment, comes in the form of ‘Fortuna’ with a promise of personal and collective healing. A quiet subtle, deeply fabulous, and exciting exhibition, speaking to us on many levels. Time will reveal the vast range of its overview.
THE ARTIST
An African American artist with a huge reputation, Kara Walker was born in California 1969. Her work explores the themes of Race, Identity, and Violence. Kara became popular and well known in the early 1990s, with her large scale cut-out silhouettes, titled ‘Gone With The Wind.’ She is now acclaimed as one of the most celebrated artist of her generation.
Walker talks about the ways in which large public art commissions can feel distanced from the artist’s hand. “You never need to touch a block of marble to become a monument maker.” In the interview she stated, “I liked pictures that told stories of things.”
