Jeffrey Deitch, New York (Grand Str)

Alexandre Diop</a>’s new body of work in Hood Rich pays homage to the inherent creativity, resourcefulness, code of conduct and capacity to adapt of people inhabiting environments considered “ghetto” or labeled as inner-city communities, often stereotypically associated with poverty, institutional racism, disenfranchisement and marginalization.</p><p>Inspired by contemporary African realities, African experiences across Europe and the US, as well as trap and hip hop music and associated codes of conduct, Diop’s large-scale paintings on panel and drawings explore the paradox and definitions of material wealth and associated status versus the creativity, capacity and richness of values. Diop elaborates:</p><p>The term “hood rich” means that “you made it,” but it also connotates a remaining in the hood, albeit not geographically, but rather in terms of values and belief systems. My work goes beyond stereotypes and does not concern itself with an outsider’s perspective. Instead, it forces you to respect the creativity and ability to adapt of any supposedly marginalized community that nevertheless creates value, meaning and a true intellectual and tangible contribution to contemporary society.</p><p>Diop describes his approach as occupying a zone between painting, sculpture, and relief. Like a DJ who uses existing discs and readily available resources rather than expensive instruments, he sources his materials from his surroundings—whether in the streets and stores of Vienna, Berlin, Miami or New York City—and creates something precious for himself and his community out of the discarded and the seemingly worthless. The books, photographs, metal, wood, animal hair, nails and other materials that he adopts echo the traditions of the Arte Povera movement and draw reference from African Art and Dadaism. Similarly, Diop elevates found objects to create multi-layered imagery that have agency, and a unique voice and vision. The material intelligence, texture and depth of his works engage the viewer physically and intellectually. They pose questions that reframe and redefine classical ideas, not only in reference to art history but also to socio-political notions that define the current cultural discourse.</p><p><br></p>" />