Jefferson Pinder: The Black Subversive (HC) (2024)

Working between activism and performance, Pinder creates texts and diagrams exploring the interdependence of art and politics

As the commercialization and popularity of the "Black struggle" in mainstream culture continues, artists and creatives are being challenged to reinvent and refocus their approach to activism with the explicit intention of helping people understand race dynamics. Jefferson Pinder: The Black Subversive decodes the Chicago-based artist's performance work and uniquely straddles the subtle boundaries of activism and drama, challenging art audiences and civilians alike. Functioning as an "instruction manual" for subversive work, the book poetically reveals the inner workings of Pinder's performative practice. Enthralled by mid-20th-century "cut-away illustrations," Pinder (born 1970) develops texts and diagrams that reveal the connection between art and politics and the inner workings of a politicized performance practice in which every artistic choice is imbued with symbolism and meaning. In addition to performance documentation and insight into the research that informs the artist's work, the book includes essays by scholars Carlos Sirah, Jordana Saggese and Isaiah Wooden.