Jungle Life
Artist
Thornton Dial
(American, 1928–2016)
Date1991
Mediumwatercolor, graphite and charcoal on Lanaquarelle White paper
Dimensionssheet: 76.2 × 55.9 cm (30 × 22 in.)
ClassificationsWatercolors
Markingsl.l.: Lanaquarelle paper embossing
Credit LineSarah C. Garver Fund
Object number2021.66
Label TextIn the late-1980s and ‘90s, Dial developed a visual language that adopted animals as surrogates for human emotions. The tiger, seen here, functions as a symbol of strength and tenacity directed at the suffering historically inflicted upon Black men in this country. Characteristic of many of his best-known works, Jungle Life utilizes the whole sheet and harmoniously juxtaposes representational elements with abstract, gestural mark-making.
Dial also has a meaningful connection to another artist in the exhibition, Mary Lee Bendolph. Like Bendolph, Dial placed great value on recycling personal items in his work. For example, he would send Bendolph his threadbare clothing for use in her quilts. Once she had salvaged all of the useful fabric, Bendolph mailed back parts like zippers which Dial inserted into his paintings. Bendolph’s To Honor Mr. Dial, located in this gallery’s pattern section, is an homage to the personal and artistic relationship the two artists shared.On View
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