What Risk Have You Taken Lately?
Take a moment and reflect on the decisions you’ve made and the decisions you will make as you move forward through life. Is it time for you to make some adjustments and face your fears? Now ask yourself “What Risk Have You Taken Lately?” You will ponder this question as you explore the latest solo exhibition, What Risk Have You Taken Lately, by Michael Coleman—better known as Jiggy Korean.
This exhibition has seven thought-provoking pieces from his Risky Business collection. Risky Business is a dramatic pop art collection of works that use bold colors and moods to connect with people’s everyday life journeys, as it relates to the risks we take. In exploring each piece, there is an admiration for the details and the story conveyed. Each piece welcomes and encourages viewers to connect emotionally and relate it to their life experiences.
If I had to pick a favorite, I would say it's a tie between It Takes A Village and Who You Calling B***h. It Takes a Village is a 6ft x 5ft piece that depicts a group of masked individuals of different ages, most likely a family. The masks give the piece an element of mystery, but the brown hands let us know that this is a village of black/brown people. With this one it is easy to think of the phrase “it takes a village to raise a child,” but I also see it as it takes a village to accomplish larger goals. This piece gives me a feeling of unity and, from the expressions of the masks, also makes me feel like this group is not one to be messed with.
Who You Calling a B***h is, in my opinion, the most attention-grabbing because of the use of red, which is a powerful, demanding color. Looking at this piece, I see a powerful woman who exudes fearlessness. She has a yellow mask that could be viewed as though she is putting it on or removing it, and she is also shirtless. Behind her is a silhouette of her with hanging undergarments on a clothesline and a pack of dogs. Maybe the risk in this is her removing the mask along with her undergarments. Perhaps she is surrendering and embracing her true self despite the opinions of others.
Through all of his pieces of dramatic pop art, Jiggy Korean expresses powerful emotions that force the viewer to think deeper than the surface. Born in D.C. and currently based in Atlanta, Jiggy Korean has been passionate about art since the age of nine but honed in on his creative gifts in 2017. His works have been featured in The Trap Art Museum, God Is Dope Gallery, and a plethora of restaurants, homes, and sold-out art shows.
What Risk Have You Taken Lately is on display at The Emma Darnell Aviation Museum and Conference Center until August 23, 2024.
