“Passing/Posing (St. Clement of Padua)” by Kehinde Wiley, 2003, oil on canvas.Posted here is a piece by Kehinde Wiley as part of his “Passing/Posing” series, called “St. Clement of Padua”. This New York-based artist uses in his large-scale portraits young African American men as models, dressed in street clothes but posed as European nobles. His works resemble portraits of nobles and saints by Renaissance and Baroque painters. The subjects of Wiley’s paintings portray a sense of power and authority, and his pieces help redefine how African American males perceive themselves.
In his pieces, such as that shown above, Wiley draws on the influence of traditional portrait masters but infuses his own individuality and expression into his work, especially through his choice of subjects. Benjamin argues that in mechanical reproduction, the aura of the work of art withers. However, Wiley’s pieces are so new and original, even though drawn from traditional artists, as to give his works each a more refreshing aura. In his “St Clements” piece, one can literally see the aura of the young man glowing around him in the yellow color.
Thus, originality in a work of art is crucial, even if the work is heavily influenced by or copied from another. Art is a mode of expression; thus, any work lacking of this factor also loses its potential to convey anything to the viewer. Following the example of Kehinde Wiley, the artist must be able to express what is important to him in his works, whether they are copied or new.
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