Arthur Jafa’s work entitled ‘Love is the Message, The Message is Death’ is a seven and a half minute video exploring different elements of the African American experience. One reaches the roof after ascending three floors of an office block and is met by a huge black tent. Jafa has said that the tent is meant to evoke a sense of the revival tents where Christian worshipers would have meetings, church rallies, and come together as a community.
The video is set to Kanye West’s ‘Ultralight Beam’, a song about finding hope in faith through earthly trials and tribulations. The music furthers the experience of being in a church and prepares the spectator for the emotional rollercoaster they must eventually encounter. The video is a compilation of footage exploring African American identity through different imagery; from viral comedic videos, to clips of police brutality. The video is edited seamlessly and the climaxes of the video occur at the most powerful parts of the song -- for instance, when Lebron James slam dunks at the loudest part of the song -- and image and video work hand in hand to create a powerful effect. Jafa wanted to create a video that would replicate “the power, beauty and alienation of black music”, and has achieved his aim perfectly. The video cuts from footage of singers, sportsmen, to killings, rap-culture and powerful moments in the civil rights movement, showing myriad aspects of life.
‘Jafa weaves these strands together into a euphoric war cry, a chest-thumping, tear-stained scream of intent’ (Time Out)
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Time Out has called this exhibition 'one of the most important works of art of the past decade', and I completely agree. The viewer is shown a multitude of experiences, evoking hope, humor, sadness and joy. One sees a mother and son forced out of their cars and arrested, but the next moment the viewer is confronted with James Brown’s energetic dancing.
He shows the triumphs and failures and the inherent spirit of defiance.
The film evokes heartbreak and joy. It is powerful and important. Everyone reading this should go to the exhibition and experience this otherworldly spiritual encounter.
In case you haven't already: get a taster by having a listen to Kanye West's 'Ultralight Beam'.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6qQ-GEfDKg
Where: 180 the Strand Address: London WC2R 1EA Admission: Free
5 Oct 2017 - 12:00 PM to 14 Dec 2017 - 6:00 PM
https://www.timeout.com/london/art/arthur-jafa-love-is-the-message-the-message-is-death-review
Tomi Von Bredow