Busy last week in the lovely backyard garden of SoHo’s Henley Vaporium were Gilf! and LMNOPi — two Brooklyn-based activist artists — collaborating on a mural in tribute to Kalief Browder. When we stopped by, I had the chance to speak to Gilf!
It’s wonderful to see the two of you working together. How did this collaboration come to be?
When Kimyon Huggins, the curator of the Secret Garden Series, hit me up to paint a mural, I immediately thought of LMNOPi.
Yes, it seems like such a natural collaboration. How did you decide on the subject of this mural?
My work has recently focused on the kinds of issues and injustices related to the case of Kalief Browder. And since LMNOPi is such a wonderful portrait painter with a strong social and political consciousness, I thought we would work well together.
What — would you say — is the intent of your art?
The only reason I make art is to change the world.
And what is it about Kalief Browder‘s story that has triggered your work?
What happened to Kalief is, sadly, not unique. And it is outrageous. Yet, many people aren’t aware of these kinds of widespread injustices. Kalief was incarcerated at Rikers Island at age 16 for three years for a crime he never committed. Two of those three years were spent in solitary confinement. Eventually his case was dismissed. This past June, Kalief Browder committed suicide by hanging himself.
What would you like people who see the mural that you have fashioned with LMNOPi walk away with?
I would like them to question what happened and demand justice.
Yes, what happened to Kalief is such a blatant, horrific injustice. We certainly need to raise awareness of the need for radical change within our prison system.
Note: The mural will be unveiled this Saturday, July 11, at Henley Vaporium‘s backyard garden at 23 Cleveland Place, between Spring and Kenmare Streets, in Soho. The event is free and open to the public — with a BBQ and DJs — from 2-10pm. There will be a Q+A with the artists and curator at 7:30 pm.
Interview with Gilf! conducted and edited by Lois Stavsky.
Photos: 1 & 3 Dani Reyes Mozeson; 2 & 4 Tara Murray
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