Artist Statement

At a very young age of about seven I would play a game in the crawl space under my parents’ house in Jamaica. I would squeeze myself in that dark, dry space, and with a small twig I would try to summon the little sand crawlers where I saw evidence of them on the surface of the sand. I would repeat the phrase “nanny, nanny, nanny, come out and play, nanny, nanny, nanny, come out and get some rice and peas.” Even as I said these words and made small circular motions in the sand I was anxious and exhilarated that these little creatures would actually appear. Although it may not have translated to an art piece, the ritual of doing this action mixed with the feeling of isolation, anticipation, and anxiety best communicates my search when I work in my studio.

Through my sculptures and installations I make my own the leftover of a culture that qualified itself by planned over-abundance and waste. I think I always felt that instead of starting with the blank canvas or page it would be simultaneously more problematic and meaningful to use materials or elements which already have a history. The dysfunctional or discarded hold a sense of hopefulness as well as vulnerability, which appeals to my way of seeing the world. This approach is not new, but what is unique is my desire to use this to address contemporary concerns, which originate from the personal and allow for unexpected interpretations.

Nari Ward, T.P. Reign Bow (2012) Wood, blue tarp, brass grommets, zippers, human hair, and taxidermy fox (18’ x 13’ x 22’) Installation view, Lehmann Maupin, New York

Photographed by Elisabeth Bernstein, 2012 Courtesy of the artist and Lehmann Maupin, New York and Hong Kong

Nari Ward, Detail of Exodus (1993) Tires, firehose, mixed media

Courtesy of the artist and Lehmann Maupin, New York and Hong Kong

Nari Ward, Crusader (2005) Plastic bags, metal, shopping cart, trophy elements, tar extract, chandelier, and plastic containers (110” x 51” x 52”) Installation view, Nerman Museum, 2010

Courtesy of the artist, Nerman Museum, and Lehmann Maupin, New York and Hong Kong

Nari Ward, Loisaidas LiquorsouL (2011) Metal, plexiglass, fluorescent sign, pvc pipe, artificial flowers, shoelaces and shoe tips (144” x 30” x 24”)

Photographed by Kim Jones, 2014 Courtesy of the artist, LSU Museum of Art, and Lehmann Maupin, New York and Hong Kong