Melvin Edwards's European retrospective at Fridericianum highlights decades of metal sculptures on racial violence.

The Fridericianum in Kassel is currently hosting Melvin Edwards's inaugural European retrospective, titled 'Some Bright Morning,' which runs until January 12. This exhibition showcases 51 pieces created between 1963 and 2019, prominently featuring his ongoing Lynch Fragments series—composed of charred metal assemblages of tools, chains, and machine components that often take on the appearance of warped faces. Born in Houston in 1937, Edwards made history as the first African-American sculptor to hold a solo exhibition at the Whitney Museum in 1970. His early work displayed a Minimalist approach, utilizing materials like chains, exemplified by Lines for the Poet (1970). After a decline in visibility, his recognition surged following his participation in the 2015 Venice Biennale, curated by Okwui Enwezor. The retrospective also highlights freestanding steel sculptures from the 1970s and 80s, including Adeoli Goacaba (1988), which blend formal beauty with hints of violence. Initially a painter in Los Angeles and New York, Edwards later added spray paint and watercolor to his chain works. Pieces like Agricole (2016), which hangs from chains, reflect themes of colonial exploitation and forced labor. The exhibition's title draws from Ralph Ginzburg's 1962 book, 100 Years of Lynchings, emphasizing the artworks' connection to racial violence in America.