STRANGE FRUIT PROJECT
Inspired by the lyrics of Abel Meeropol, Peter Liashkov’s “Strange Fruit” poignantly honors the legacy of slaves and African Americans who were brutally murdered by lynching. Begun during a residency in Mississippi and completed in the artist’s studio, Liashkov’s videos and mixed media paintings on fiberglass mesh blend together book reproductions of actual lynchings, photos of sculptural portrayals of African faces, and images of the lush Mississippi landscape as seen through a porch screen. The mixed media works were created using a variety of materials, including acrylic, oil, print transfer, earth, powdered pigment, crushed glass, fiberglass mesh, and branches. The videos were shot while strong winds were blowing, thus their crackling sounds suggest that the spirits of the victims still loom over the lands where they met their tragic demises. In short, “Strange Fruit” is a timely and relevant meditation on American racism and bigotry which, sadly, are once again on the rise.
David S. Rubin
March, 2020
Strange Fruit I (2019)
Digital print, edition of five
28 x 26”
Strange Fruit II (2019)
Digital print, edition of five
28 x 26”
Strange Fruit IV (2020)
Oil, acrylic, print transfer, powdered pigment on fiberglass mesh suspended on branch
48 x 36”
Strange Fruit Portfolio
A collaboration with photographer Don Saban. Digital prints, edition of 5.
Strange Fruit Video
Collaboration with Kahdija Murray and Jordan Metz
Strange Fruit V (2020)
Oil, acrylic, print transfer, powdered pigment on fiberglass mesh suspended on branch
28 x 22”
Strange Fruit VI (2020)
Oil, acrylic, print transfer, powdered pigment on fiberglass mesh suspended on branch
24 x 30”
Strange Fruit III (2020)
Oil, acrylic, print transfer, wood on fiberglass mesh
21 x 21”
Strange Fruit VII (2020)
Oil, acrylic, print transfer on fiberglass mesh
19 x 13”
Strange Fruit VIII (2020)
Oil, acrylic, print transfer on propylene cloth
18 x 24”
Strange Fruit IX (2020)
Oil, acrylic, collage on fiberglass mesh
32 x 19”