In his work, Dadisi Curtis explores the "monster" not as a myth, but as a lived reality for those whose very existence is often met with fear and prejudice. Drawing from his experience as a Black man in America, Curtis examines how the "Super Predator" narrative and systemic biases frame Black bodies as inherently monstrous. His practice serves as a reclamation of humanity, utilizing the framework of Frankenstein’s Monster to draw parallels between the misunderstood creature and the Black body subjected to interpersonal, structural, and institutional violence. Curtis constructs a narrative for a "Black Frankenstein"—one that acknowledges the trauma of the past while centering the joy and resilience required to flourish within it.
A signature element of Curtis’s practice is the use of fluorescent pigments activated by ultraviolet light. This "blacklight" serves as a potent metaphor for the African American perspective: a frequency that is constantly present but frequently remains invisible to the dominant white gaze. His installations are meticulously designed to operate in both white and black light environments, mirroring the duality of the minority experience—the necessity of navigating a dominant culture while preserving nuances and"hidden joys" that only become visible within a Black cultural context. By merging sculpture, printmaking, and digital media, Curtis creates immersive, cinematic environments that offer viewers a glimpse into the constant encounters and unseen injustices faced by People of Color, inviting a deeper interrogation of racial privilege and systemic division.
peaking.jpg)
_nd.avif)
13A.jpg)
