Arthur Jafa's Serpentine Exhibition Probes Black Aesthetics and Political Objectification

From June 8 to September 10, 2017, the Serpentine Sackler Gallery in London hosted Arthur Jafa's exhibition titled 'A Series of Utterly Improbable, Yet Extraordinary Renditions.' This showcase included pieces by Frida Orupabo and Ming Smith, delving into a possible 'black aesthetic' influenced by American racial dynamics. Noteworthy historical elements featured a large reproduction of the 1970 Marin County courthouse hostage situation and a black-dyed Confederate flag. The video mixes highlighted figures like Jimi Hendrix, Bootsy Collins, and Soul Train. Jafa's artwork explored themes of monstrous identity, while Orupabo's photo-collages illustrated fragmented representations of women. Additionally, Kahlil Joseph's 2013 film Wildcat was screened. Jafa engaged in a dialogue about the historical experiences of Black Americans with Hans Ulrich Obrist, and the exhibition was reviewed in the October 2017 issue of ArtReview.