Hank Willis Thomas’s General Lee Car Stands Vertical at MOCA
Hank Willis Thomas’s 2019 sculpture 'A Suspension of Hostilities' was featured in the group exhibition 'Monuments' at The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA and The Brick in Los Angeles. The work consists of a 1969 Dodge Charger, a replica of the General Lee from the TV show 'The Dukes of Hazzard,' displayed vertically facing the viewer. The original car bore the Confederate flag and its horn played 'Dixie.' Thomas, who watched the show as a child, noted that his family never questioned the Confederate imagery. The exhibition, co-organized by MOCA and The Brick, presents decommissioned Confederate monuments alongside contemporary artworks, reflecting on post-Civil War legacies.
Key facts
- Hank Willis Thomas created 'A Suspension of Hostilities' in 2019.
- The artwork is a 1969 Dodge Charger displayed vertically.
- The car replicates the General Lee from 'The Dukes of Hazzard.'
- The original car featured the Confederate flag and played 'Dixie.'
- Thomas watched the show with his grandmother and mother without questioning the flag.
- The work was part of the 'Monuments' exhibition at The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA and The Brick.
- The exhibition includes decommissioned Confederate monuments and contemporary works.
- The show reflects on post-Civil War American history and monument removals.
Entities
Artists
- Hank Willis Thomas
Institutions
- MOCA
- The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA
- The Brick
Locations
- Los Angeles
- Plainfield, New Jersey
- New York
- Appomattox Court House