Keisha Scarville's 'Passports' Monograph Published by MACK
On June 11, MACK released a monograph showcasing Keisha Scarville's 'Passports' series, which features more than 300 reinterpretations of her father's passport photo. This project began in 2012, inspired by the image her father brought from Guyana when he immigrated to the U.S. in 1967. Scarville employs various techniques like collage and layering, using materials such as gold leaf, glitter, and quotes from authors Ben Okri and Jan Carew to transform the original picture. The series melds personal stories with broader political themes, alluding to the Pan-African flag and the 1968 Olympics protest by Tommie Smith and John Carlos. Scarville aims to delve deeper into concepts of citizenship and identity through this work.
Key facts
- Keisha Scarville created over 300 works in the 'Passports' series.
- The series is based on her father's earliest passport photograph.
- Her father emigrated from Guyana to the United States in 1967.
- Scarville started the series in 2012.
- MACK published the monograph on June 11.
- The works include collage, drawing, and layering techniques.
- Gold, red, black, and green colors reference the Pan-African flag.
- The series references Tommie Smith and John Carlos at the 1968 Olympics.
Entities
Artists
- Keisha Scarville
- Ben Okri
- Jan Carew
- Marcus Garvey
- Tommie Smith
- John Carlos
Institutions
- MACK
Locations
- Guyana
- United States
- New York City