Trenton Doyle Hancock's 'Something American' Exhibition Explores Antiheroism and White Supremacy

From September 17 to October 17, 2020, Trenton Doyle Hancock showcased his exhibition 'Something American' at James Cohan galleries in New York. This display further developed Hancock's 'Moundverse' through a variety of ink-on-paper drawings, expansive paintings, and immersive installations. A key focus of the exhibition was Torpedo Boy, Hancock's superhero alter ego, engaging with a member of the Ku Klux Klan. In the piece 'SKUM: Just Beneath the Skin' (2018), Torpedo Boy faces the Klansman, who is depicted holding the severed head of a Black man. The show also featured works like 'Vegans' and 'Bringbacks,' drawing inspiration from Philip Guston. In 'Schlep and Screw' (2017), the Klansman presents an apple while standing on an altar marked 'All of this is you,' alluding to sinister themes and supremacist ideologies in America.