Jibade-Khalil Huffman Surveys How Meaning Is Continually Reshaped in ‘Control’

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As a passionate art enthusiast with a keen eye for contemporary works that delve deep into societal nuances, I find Jibade-Khalil Huffman‘s exhibition “Control” at Anat Ebgi gallery to be an enlightening and thought-provoking experience. Born in Detroit and now based in the vibrant cityscape of Los Angeles, Huffman’s life experiences seem to have shaped his art into a poignant reflection of our digital age.

Strolling through the bustling heart of any big city, you’re likely to encounter numerous individuals deeply engrossed in phone conversations, their attention frequently shifting between their digital worlds and the physical reality around them. This intriguing phenomenon forms a significant aspect of American artist and writer Jibade-Khalil Huffman’s work. Originally from Detroit and now residing in Los Angeles, Huffman is currently displaying a new solo exhibition titled “Control” at Anat Ebgi gallery. The showcase includes a fresh series of film installations, inkjet collages, and for the first time, screen-printed works.

Huffman has always been captivated by doppelgängers and the process of reinvention after trauma. Using modern social and political issues as his inspiration, IRL presents two actors who, over a span of three hours, enact what appears to be a rehearsal across changing stages and lighting, accompanied by live and pre-recorded audio. This live cinema performance within a film serves as a meta installation, delving into the essence of our digital lives today. The performance occasionally pauses for monologues, mirroring instances in a musical where a character suddenly breaks into song or the way one can build an alternate reality online.

As you venture deeper into the gallery, “Monodrama” (2024, 18 minutes) echoes the continuous flow of information similar to a typical social media feed. This work, created by Huffman, is a collage of found materials that the release from Anat Ebgi describes as a “torrent of rage-filled stream of consciousness.” The gallery explains that Huffman’s piece draws from a diverse range of source material – maps, diagrams, classic TV stills, and advertisements. By focusing on poetic language and semiotics, Huffman’s work explores how meaning is constantly shaped and evolving.

Control will be on view in LA until November 16, 2024.

Anat Ebgi
6150 Wilshire Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA. 90048

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2024-11-07 03:55