Black Love 2020

Editor: This is Cornelius Annor's 2020 painting "Black Love," created with oil paint. There’s a stylishly dressed Black couple lounging on a green couch; the whole scene has such a cool, collected vibe. What strikes you most about it? Curator: It speaks volumes about the politics of representation. Historically, Black figures in art were often portrayed through a colonial gaze. Here, Annor reclaims that narrative. The subjects aren’t just existing, they are relaxed, self-assured, and undeniably stylish. Do you notice how their gaze avoids direct engagement, projecting self-possession, independence? Editor: Yes, there’s a clear sense of control. It’s almost as if they’re daring the viewer to judge. And the title itself, "Black Love," feels like a statement. Curator: Precisely! It elevates the everyday, showing Black love and life as worthy of artistic representation. Annor highlights their inherent grace, which becomes a powerful act of resistance against historical marginalization. Considering how art institutions have often sidelined Black artists, Annor’s decision to depict this scene is particularly significant. The location seems very interior and staged. What might it say that they are located at home and together? Editor: I hadn't thought about it that way. So it’s about more than just the surface image; it’s a comment on historical power dynamics? I guess I initially saw it just as a very contemporary portrait. Curator: Exactly. The painting functions within the context of visual culture and its inherent biases. "Black Love" becomes a celebration, a challenge, and an act of self-determination, rewriting a history from which Black figures were often excluded or misrepresented. It invites us to consider the cultural forces that inform the ways in which we see, interpret, and value different images. Editor: That definitely gives me a lot to think about—seeing art as a way to correct or reclaim a narrative. Thanks!