99% NO.29 2013

Curator: Sedrick Huckaby’s "99% NO.29" presents us with a tender rendering of a child. The sketch work gives the subject a raw, immediate feel. Editor: It strikes me as quite poignant. The artist has captured a sense of vulnerability. The rough lines add to the feeling of immediacy. Curator: Indeed, the hatching and cross-hatching create depth, especially around the child's face and hands, drawing our eye to those features. What do you make of the objects at their feet? Editor: They ground the figure. It's not simply a formal study; the inclusion of the toys tells us about the child’s lived reality, play, and even perhaps the conditions of their making. Curator: The title, "99%," is intriguing. Perhaps it alludes to the imperfections inherent in representation, or perhaps the gap between image and reality. Editor: Or the social forces determining the child’s life chances. The drawing’s accessibility almost belies the complexity of its statement. Curator: A compelling piece to consider, both formally and conceptually. Editor: It certainly is. It prompts us to contemplate both the individual depicted and the systems that shape their world.