Brooklyn Museum Displays Work By 9/11 Victim Michael Richards

(MENAFN- USA Art News) The Brooklyn Museum has installed“ Free F'All” (1997), a sculpture by Caribbean-American artist Michael Richards, in its lobby to mark the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks. Richards, who was 38 years old, was in his studio on the 92nd floor of the World Trade Center's North Tower when the first plane struck the building, leaving no survivors above the 91st floor. His remains were never recovered from Ground Zero.

This is the only work by Richards in the museum's collection. Crafted from fiberglass and resin with a rust oxide coating,“Free F'All” depicts a Black military pilot wearing a parachute pack and aviator's cap. His eyes are closed, arms pinned to his sides, and his right knee is slightly bent. Dozens of nails pierce his body, from the collarbone to the mid-thigh, and through his hands and feet, evoking a crucifixion.

The sculpture, like much of Richards's work, directly references the Tuskegee Airmen, who were the first African American aviators in the United States armed forces. The nails symbolize the racial discrimination and violence these Black pilots experienced while serving during World War II, a period when segregation remained enforced in the US military.

We previously reported:

Former President George W. Bush has unveiled 16 new paintings titled“Remembering 9/11” at his Dallas presidential center, marking the 25th anniversary.

Source: Hyperallergic

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