Ervin A Johnson
Ervin A. Johnson’s arresting large-scale, photo-based work is rooted in his personal experiences as a queer black man. #InHonor is a series of photographic mixed media portraits that represent Johnson’s visceral response to racism and police brutality done to the black body. Johnson began InHonor around the time of the Trayvon Martin and Eric Garner protests as a way to make his voice heard. These portraits stand as a forceful and visceral reminder of the strength, resiliency and beauty of the black body.
#InHonor is on view at Candela Gallery through February 16, 2019.
“I am always curious about journeying through this idea of renegotiation and trying to add something back that I feel like is lost for the black body. . . . For me, painting over these black bodies adds the aura back and brings that specialness back that I feel like is lost for the black body.”
Paige hosts the LookSEE podcast and is a freelance audio producer, an art lover, and a lifelong Richmonder. Her favorite place to be is in a museum. A close second is a bookstore.
