

A brush with... Arthur Jafa
Aug 20, 2024
Arthur Jafa, a celebrated filmmaker and installation artist, dives into the artistic influences that shaped his work, from James Brown's electrifying performances to the comic artistry of Jack Kirby. He shares how his experiences, including witnessing Mahalia Jackson's powerful singing, have informed his exploration of Black identity and systemic inequities. Jafa also discusses his creative process, inspiration from legends like Jean-Michel Basquiat, and the profound question: what is art for?
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Black Cinema as Black Music
- Arthur Jafa's core artistic goal is to create "Black cinema" that evokes the same power as Black music.
- He aims to explore the tension between abstract ideas and their concrete realization, focusing on Black aesthetics and visual intonation.
YouTube as Ocean, Not Archive
- Jafa rejects the label of "archive king," likening his use of found footage to a musician using notes.
- He views YouTube as an ocean of freely accessible material, not a traditional archive.
Intuitive Flitting
- Jafa's work intentionally blends diverse artistic languages, reflecting his intuitive and flitting creative process.
- He values unintentional discoveries in his work, believing they indicate a connection to something larger.