Book Review: When I Think About Power
When I Think About Power (No. 1), 2021
Image Courtesy of Eric Hart Jr. and Damiani Books
Written by Nicole Miller
Copy Edited by Keenan Haggen
Photo Edited by Olivia Castillo
Eric Hart Jr. challenges traditional systems of power that dominate the contemporary art world in his new monograph When I Think About Power. Through examining the conflicts experienced as a Black, queer man, Hart embraces his identity as the answer to the question of what it means to be powerful. The book comprises over 70 black-and-white photographs that explore the intersectionality between Blackness, queerness, and masculinity. He thematically contextualizes his photo series by dividing up his images based on how they relate to influential artists like James Baldwin and Marlon Riggs. Hart was named the 2022 Forbes 30 under 30 Art & Style select and has been published in the New York Times, the Washington Post, and Rolling Stone. He adds When I Think About Power, which releases on May 16, to his impressive resume.
When I Think About Power (No. 32), 2022
Image Courtesy of Eric Hart Jr. and Damiani Books
Too few artists question our institutions built upon systemic racism and heteronormative and patriarchal values. However, Hart reframes the conversation by dissecting and rethinking our current hierarchy and power structures through motifs. For example, the long, painted nails in the image above are a recurring symbol of power that confronts essentialist thinking of gender norms. Hart demonstrates feminine accessories and dress are not inherently biological, nor should they be regarded as “weak,” and instead asserts that gender is a social construct.
When I Think About Power (No. 37), 2021
Image Courtesy of Eric Hart Jr. and Damiani Books
When I Think About Power (No. 3), 2021
Image Courtesy of Eric Hart Jr. and Damiani Books
The text in When I Think About Power is written by Zun Lee, an award-winning photographer, who helps explain the technical genius of Hart’s work. Immediately, viewers are captivated by “the minimal aesthetic and abundant negative space,” as it feels “deeply introspective and open-ended, an invitation to a journey rather than a celebratory arrival.” Lee argues that Hart’s photo series is a living project meant to be fluid and infinite. The audience is pursuing a study of their self-analysis alongside Hart’s. Lee also comments on Hart’s unique style, acknowledging his innovative approach to Black, queer photography.
“When I Think About Power makes room in our contemporary discourse for the not-yet-answered, not-yet-overdetermined: Maximum volume and color are often associated with a Black queer aesthetic.”
When I Think About Power (No. 8), 2021
Image Courtesy of Eric Hart Jr. and Damiani Books
What is empowering to Hart’s audience is his self-expression and self-acceptance. His monograph portrays marginalized communities as sources of power, profoundly asserting that power is accessible and can be found within yourself. Hart expands the conversation to focus on understanding one’s identity, encouraging his viewers to realize there is strength and beauty in the somewhat painful process of discovering oneself. Like Hart, we must also work to recognize and accept ourselves, especially if we wish to reevaluate our social systems and place them within each other.
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