Artist Statement
My first encounter with a racist object was at a small antique shop in Maysville, KY. I picked up the small, seemingly amiable artifact and immediately felt threatened. I couldn’t tell at the time if it was the vacant eyes, the “too eager to please” cherry red smile, or the monotone, charcoal black skin. It wasn’t long before I realized that this dreadful object was working exactly how it was intended to; it was a mirror. The horrifying truth washed over me as I recognized myself in the toothy smile. The truth was I did see myself, a mockery of myself, but myself all the same.
Since this experience, I have become intrigued by these various types of “mirrors” and observing their place in history and our minds. These too often ubiquitous objects were used throughout history to create a story, a plot line for Black America to identify with. This image is often oversexualized, dimwitted, or harboring a deep vacancy. This image has been perpetuated time and time again and now lives in the collective subconsciousness of being black in America. An image that says our purpose in society is coupled with a dense lack of intellect and self worth. If you control the way that someone identifies themself, you control the person through their understanding of their own image; it is a control mechanism. With my work I strive to subvert these images and create a new story, in which I articulate how I see the black image. I often make my sculptural pieces functional to marry the historical nature of ceramics and mimic the utilitarian use of these racist objects with dignified purpose. Using ceramics as a functional medium to me reflects necessary functions that black culture has been defining in American culture.
Artist Bio
Christina Graland Joseph was born in Los Angeles, October of 1990. She grew up in Southern California studying painting and drawing from a young age. She attended college at Maryland Institute College of Art where she learned ceramics, performance art, and installation. She graduated in 2012 with a BFA in sculpture. After graduating, Christina became involved in the art scene in Baltimore both with local galleries and community outreach. For years after graduating college, Joseph focused primarily on her performative works, performing at Baltimore’s Light City, Fields Fest, and other local galleries and events. Joseph moved back to Los Angeles in 2017 where she now lives and works primarily with ceramics. Despite growing up in Los Angeles, Joseph is highly influenced her southern roots, as well as artists such as Lorna Simpson, Carrie Mae Weems, and David Hammons. Joseph’s work often surrounds themes of identity, hair, spirituality, and beauty culture.