"The tides have changed.
Mutiny is declared.
Those who have not accepted
this reality have forever been
rocked in the cradle of the deep.
Our Ancestors
have mapped out the way
within the stars.
Pull the anchor & set sail.
Homeward bound.
A mixed media collection of paintings and banners highlighting the duality of the African Diaspora and its hidden connection to american traditional sailor tattoos."
- Christopher Martin
Hashimoto Contemporary is pleased to present Homeward Bound the debut solo exhibition of Oakland-based artist Christopher Martin. Utilizing the visual vernacular of traditional American tattooing, Martin interweaves imagery from the African Diaspora, his own mythology and iconic navy tattoos to create bold banners and paintings.
Working across mediums including tattooing, textile and painting, each facet of Christopher Martin’s practice informs the others. Imagery commonly found in traditional sailor tattoos are prevalent influences for the current body of work featured in Homeward Bound. The history and superstition embedded in archetypical nautical motifs such as anchors, mermaids and animals are re-coded to reflect the history and stories of the African American experience.
The reclamation of cotton as a primary medium, applied in the large-scale tapestry works and the fiber based paintings on paper, reflect the Atlantic slave trade and the artist’s North Carolina roots. Steeped in Southern and Black history, Christopher Martin’s work layers the confrontation of contemporary injustice and folkloric storytelling to create a new lexicon for black culture.
For additional information or to be receive the advance preview, email SF@hashimotocontemporary.com.
In-person appointments can be made here.
