99% NO.40 2013

Curator: This is Sedrick Huckaby's "99% NO.40," a drawing held in the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: The nervous energy of the lines really strikes me; it feels so raw, intimate. Curator: Indeed. Huckaby’s work often engages with themes of family, community, and the Black experience. The inscription at the bottom, "I'll be glad when Barry gets back...I miss him," gives the portrait a powerful emotional context, revealing a personal narrative. Editor: Yes, it really grounds the image. The frenetic mark-making builds up the form, giving the subject volume, but also this vulnerability. The high contrast emphasizes the emotional weight. Curator: Huckaby's focus extends beyond mere representation. He is highlighting the importance of familial bonds and the impact of absence within a community, especially poignant considering historical and contemporary social contexts. Editor: Looking at the repetition of lines, I’m seeing a real tension between solidity and dissolving. It feels like the subject is present, but also fading somehow. Curator: Ultimately, this work is a beautiful example of how personal stories can reflect broader social realities. Editor: A powerful reminder that the formal choices are always intertwined with deeper human stories.