Slavery Memorial: Lash 1999

Howardena Pindell made *Slavery Memorial: Lash* using paper collage, paint, and found images. These everyday materials contrast with the artwork's weighty subject, the Transatlantic Slave Trade. See how Pindell layers fragments to create a dense and complex surface. Images of chained figures and maps of trade routes are juxtaposed with stylized African sculptures. The effect is unsettling, emphasizing the human cost of slavery while also hinting at the rich cultural heritage that was brutally suppressed. The chains, rendered in simple black and white, run throughout the artwork, symbolizing the dehumanization of enslaved people. Pindell's use of collage—a technique often associated with craft—underscores the importance of labor and the hands-on process of creation. By assembling disparate elements, she transforms a flat surface into a powerful statement about history, memory, and resistance. This work challenges traditional art categories, prompting us to recognize the profound social and political significance embedded in materials and making.