Glenn Ligon1)
These two works of art appear in the beginning of the speech, after the portraits of Jay Jay and Basquiat. On the photograph, we can see the face of a man seen from behind (the portrait of the speech is split in two) and an opened book with some figures. These works of art interest me because they are answering the question of identity : Are we able to know somebody without a face, and could we know more about him thanks to his face? Moreover the double exposure of the figure and the writing which begins with "I am an invisible man" is clearly questionning what the identity and the relation to oneself are.
2)
a) Thanks to Thelma Golden, the images work for they bring a deep reflexion. Actually when she tells the anecdote of a woman who made mistakes about the artist's "race", she points out the fact that images can change and shake our way to think the society.
b) One of the questions she raises concerning the role of the museum in the society is : Can the museum be a catalyst in a community? Actually the museum gathers together many artists who are asking some questions in their art to re-think the society. Moreover she wonders if the museum could be the place to discuss of some cultural questions like these like : What does that mean to be an African American today?
3)
Thelma Golden thinks the artists as "real catalysts". First of all what does she mean by "catalyst"? In my point if view she considers the artists as catalysts because they are able to sum up all social, cultural questions through their sensibilty and their creativity in their works of art. In that way they can open minds to other and uncommon horizons. When she uses this terme "catalyst", I have the image of a sponge which is absorbing many emotional and considered things to transform all this matter thanks to art. I agree with her : I think many of all artists create in response to something of their social, cultural life and in that way their catalysing some questions about it.
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