Israel Solomon
My RSA work was influenced by the perceived curse of Ham in relation to the story of Noah. I chose to create a collage-like piece, influenced by Master P’s No Limit Records format. This gaudy and cluttered representation provided me with an opportunity to create layers of images that relate to the perceived curse and how it can be interpreted over generations.
Navigation: Self Redemption
The painting is influenced by the narrative of the curse of Ham. The large central figure with his arms raised is intended to be both a God and/or king-like figure, who has defended against the assumed curse of Ham and transformed it into celebratory success. Below him, the figures within the boat are based on documentary images of people fleeing the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The figure steering the boat is intended to represent a Noah-like figure, guiding the refugees forward. In the lower right of the canvas, the reclining figure of a young boy represents the vision of youth, an observer who peers into the past/present/ and future of the assumed descendants of Ham. Finally, the red and white stripes in the upper right of the canvas is drawn from the flag of the United States of America, which is balance by the black and white stripes on the upper left of the canvas, which represent imprisonment and slavery.
About Israel Solomon
Israel Solomon is a visual artist and educator who works primarily in Indianapolis, Indiana. Israel’s artwork is filled with vibrant color and rhythmic geometric pattern, which are used to guide the eye around his work. As an artist, his goal is to shed a positive light on his people and within the community by drawing from his own experiences and recreating the on canvas. He hopes to provide his students with the foundational creative tools needed to express themselves effectively.