Racism is an Art of Another Colour, Pope.L, 1.01.01

2000. Segment of desiccated sugar cane (19 x 2.5 cm.), with text in Magic Marker by the artist. Signed and dated. The sugar cane segment is dried, but sound and not brittle; magic marker text is clear and legible. A food object by the visual and performance artist William Pope.L (1955-2023), the self-described "friendliest black artist in America". This work was likely produced as part of the artist's eRacism series of performances, which stretched from 1991-2000. Direct, but sometimes confounding statements on race, such as this one, can be found throughout much of the artist's work that involves text. "Pope.L was a visual artist and educator whose multidisciplinary practice used binaries, contraries and preconceived notions embedded within contemporary culture to create art works in various formats, for example, writing, painting, performance, installation, video and sculpture. Building upon his long history of enacting arduous, provocative, absurdist performances and interventions in public spaces, Pope.L applied some of the same social, formal and performative strategies to his interests in language, system, gender, race and community. The goals for his work were several: joy, money and uncertainty— not necessarily in that order." (Mitchell-Innes & Nash). Pope.L passed away December 23rd, 2024. Provenance: Roger Conover, former Executive Editor of MIT Press, publisher of William Pope.L, Friendliest Black Artist in America.