I am the Greatest
2012 - Painting (Painting)
33.5 inches in diameter
Hank Willis Thomas
Like many of his other sculptural works, the source of I am the Greatest is actually a historical photograph of an identical button pin from the 1960s. I am the Greatest presents the famous quote by Mohammad Ali to think about his important presence in the African American community. In dialogue with the painting I am a Man, also in the Kadist collection, this assertion that begins the same way takes the line from the protest poster several steps further. Ali never asserted that he was the greatest boxer or athlete, but had the audacity to claim that he was THE GREATEST [human being] of all time. For a man who grew up in the segregated south to rise to Ali’s iconic status and to be able to confidently and proudly vocalize his superiority was one of the most powerful, symbolic, and memorable moments in the Civil Rights struggle. Monumentally inflating the scale of the button embodies the ‘larger than life’ presence of Ali as an icon for African Americans to stand up and not only assert their humanity, but to be confident in their ability to succeed and rise up against all obstacles society placed in front of them.
Employing the visual language and terminology of mass media, and appropriating symbols and images from popular culture, Hank Willis Thomas’ work seeks to question and subvert established definitions and positions with regards to personal identity and the narrative of race. Working across installation, photography, video, and media work, Thomas maintains his photo conceptualist roots, primarily taking source material from found photographs and archives. These images form the basis from which the artist seeks to uncover the fallacies that history claims as truth. His work illustrates how the way history is represented and consumed reinforces generalizations surrounding identity, gender, race and ethnicity, and that as an artist he has an opportunity to expose or to revise those histories from the points of view of the oppressed.
Colors:
Related works sharing similar palette
© » SLASH PARIS
Jean Miotte — Galerie Almine Rech — Exposition — Slash Paris Connexion Newsletter Twitter Facebook Jean Miotte — Galerie Almine Rech — Exposition — Slash Paris Français English Accueil Événements Artistes Lieux Magazine Vidéos Retour Jean Miotte Exposition Peinture Jean Miotte, Sans titre, 2000 (Détail) Acrylique sur toile — 99,1 × 81,3 × 2,5 cm Courtesy of the artist & Galerie Almine Rech, Paris Jean Miotte Encore 11 jours : 18 novembre → 22 décembre 2023 Jean Miotte (1926-2016), qui a exposé à Paris avec Joan Mitchell, Jean-Paul Riopelle et Sam Francis, est une des figures éminentes de l’abstraction lyrique...
© » KADIST
Luke Murphy
2016What Color is Luke Murphy’s outstanding digital painting that elegantly loops in nonstop motion...
© » CREATIVETIME
A public platform awaits you with 'Red Stage' by Rashid Johnson - Creative Time A public platform awaits you with ‘Red Stage’ by Rashid Johnson May 12th, 2021 Tweet Email Creative Time is pleased to present artist Rashid Johnson’s Red Stage , a participatory steel sculpture that celebrates the vibrancy and creativity found in New York’s public spaces as the city awakens from the COVID-19 pandemic...
© » SLASH PARIS
Seyni Awa Camara — John McAllister — Sculpting Earth, Painting Sensations — Almine Rech Gallery — Exhibition — Slash Paris Login Newsletter Twitter Facebook Seyni Awa Camara — John McAllister — Sculpting Earth, Painting Sensations — Almine Rech Gallery — Exhibition — Slash Paris English Français Home Events Artists Venues Magazine Videos Back Previous Next Seyni Awa Camara — John McAllister — Sculpting Earth, Painting Sensations Exhibition Installation, painting, sculpture Seyni Awa Camara, John McAllister, Sculpting Earth, Painting Sensations, 2023 Galerie Almine Rech — Photographie : DR Seyni Awa Camara — John McAllister Sculpting Earth, Painting Sensations Ends in 13 days: January 11 → February 24, 2024 Almine Rech is pleased to present Sculpting Earth, Painting Sensations, an exhibition that creates a unique dialogue between the artists Seyni Awa Camara and John McAllister...
© » KADIST
Kent Chan
2021Heat Waves by Kent Chan examines the contexts, politics, and proliferation of the different aesthetics of heat by drawing from the aesthetics of regions defined by hot and humid climates and associated with histories of coloniality such as ‘the global south’ and the ‘developing world’...
© » 1854 PHOTOGRAPHY
Meet me in the darkroom: Paul Mpagi Sepuya’s 25 years of Queer reflexivity - 1854 Photography Subscribe latest Agenda Bookshelf Projects Industry Insights magazine Explore ANY ANSWERS FINE ART IN THE STUDIO PARENTHOOD ART & ACTIVISM FOR THE RECORD LANDSCAPE PICTURE THIS CREATIVE BRIEF GENDER & SEXUALITY MIXED MEDIA POWER & EMPOWERMENT DOCUMENTARY HOME & BELONGING ON LOCATION PORTRAITURE DECADE OF CHANGE HUMANITY & TECHNOLOGY OPINION THEN & NOW Explore Stories latest agenda bookshelf projects theme in focus industry insights magazine ANY ANSWERS FINE ART IN THE STUDIO PARENTHOOD ART & ACTIVISM FOR THE RECORD LANDSCAPE PICTURE THIS CREATIVE BRIEF GENDER & SEXUALITY MIXED MEDIA POWER & EMPOWERMENT DOCUMENTARY HOME & BELONGING ON LOCATION PORTRAITURE DECADE OF CHANGE HUMANITY & TECHNOLOGY OPINION THEN & NOW Dark Room Model Study (0X5A1728) , 2021...
© » KQED
Interview: Chelsea Wolfe Talks Witchcraft and Her New Album | KQED Skip to Nav Skip to Main Skip to Footer upper waypoint The Do List Chelsea Wolfe Says Witchcraft and Sobriety Informed Her Latest Album Krysta Fauria, Associated Press Feb 8 Save Article Save Article Failed to save article Please try again Email Chelsea Wolfe performing in June 2022...
© » KADIST
Sue Williamson
2003In her 2003 series “Better Lives”, Sue Williamson explores stories of immigrants in search of a better life in a historically contentious South Africa...
© » KQED
New Mochi Pizza Restaurant Is Offering Free Slices in Palo Alto | KQED Skip to Nav Skip to Main Skip to Footer upper waypoint Food Free Mochi Pizza For National Pizza Day? Yes, Please Alan Chazaro Feb 6 Save Article Save Article Failed to save article Please try again Email A new Peninsula pizzeria believes mochi and pizza are the perfect combination...
© » BOOOOOOOM
Where to Submit Your Work: A Curated List of Websites that Feature Art + Illustration – BOOOOOOOM! – CREATE * INSPIRE * COMMUNITY * ART * DESIGN * MUSIC * FILM * PHOTO * PROJECTS Submit So you’ve just completed your latest creative project or maybe you’ve been building up your portfolio for a while and finally feel ready to share, what next? It’s important to be confident and put yourself out there, but let’s first talk about what all this process entails in order to make the most of your time and energy...
