Cosmo Whyte Brings a Pixelated Past Into Full Focus

The Arts Club of Chicago is currently displaying “The Mother’s Tongue, Pressed to the Grinding Stone,” an exhibition by artist Cosmo Whyte, who was born in Jamaica and resides in Los Angeles. This solo show runs until April 2nd and features pieces created using various mediums. Whyte delves into the fog of memory for insight, investigating the unbreakable bond between individual and communal experiences through the concept of spectacle.

Starting from his late father’s architectural records as a foundation, Whyte explores the act of observing: “What constitutes a spectator? And what does it imply to have assumed that role?” As he delves deeper, the artist uses a postmodernist technique with images, manipulating photographs to show hidden contexts.

Notable pieces include “4×4 Timing/Hush Now, Don’t Explain” (2023), a steel sculpture with hand-painted beaded curtains that unveil tender, black-and-white portraits; also featured is the vibrant and intense “Agitation 2 – Wailer and the Griot” (2023). In this piece, densely pixelated clouds of smoke form a backdrop for an energetic, acrobatic tableau, emphasizing location rather than individuals.

Whyte’s depictions do not convey irony or sentimentality. Rather, they guide the observer to contemplate introspection and identify shared links spanning different locations and time periods.

The work titled “The Mother’s Tongue, Pressed to the Grinding Stone” is participating in Panafrica Across Chicago, a citywide collection of events and displays that delve into themes of freedom, unity, and identity through perspectives from Africa and the African diaspora.

The Arts Club of Chicago
201 E Ontario St,
Chicago, IL 60611

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2025-02-12 22:56