Crusading The Specter

Curated by Shikeith

Yossi Milo

New York, NY

JUNE 22 - AUGUST 18, 2023

Yossi Milo is pleased to present Crusading The Specter, a group exhibition curated by artist and filmmaker Shikeith. The exhibition will present work by Antoine d'Agata, Kevin Beasley, Kevin Claiborne, Justin Emmanuel Dumas, Alanna Fields, Diana Al-Hadid, Allison Janae Hamilton, Y. Malik Jalal, Harold Mendez, Azza El Siddique, Bri Williams, and London Williams. The exhibition will open with a reception on Thursday, June 22 and will be on view through Friday, August 18, 2023.

Crusading The Specter is a creative response to a prevailing socio-political state of mourning and remembrance, an ever-increasing loss of societal liberties and privileges, and worldwide environmental devastation. This exhibition delves into the spatial dimension and politics of the notion of 'a haunting,' drawing inspiration from the concept of Hauntology as introduced by French philosopher Jacques Derrida in his 1992 magnum opus, 'Specters of Marx.'

Hauntology emphasizes that the past is not merely a relic of bygone eras but rather an ever-present haunting force that profoundly impacts our lives. The artists featured in Crusading The Specter embark on uncovering and following traces of the past that shape our contemporary experiences and identities. Through their artistic endeavors, these artists communicate processes of grieving, yearning, recovery, and temporality, shedding light on the intricate interplay between history, memory, and the human condition.

Included in the exhibition is Kevin Claiborne's (American, b. 1989) Throne (2022). Made from old police barricades, the multimedia sculpture recalls the form of a seat used in BDSM practices. The structure is sealed with a thin layer of shea butter-a uniquely African ingredient used for centuries-and suggests a crossing of boundaries and barriers to assert agency over experiences, identities, bodies, pleasure, and pain.