Zombie Figuration Isn’t a Thing: A Critical Autopsy with Antwaun Sargent

Jordan Casteel, “Within Reach”, New Museum installation view, 2020. Photo: Dario Lasagni

In this episode of Explain Me, critic and curator Antwaun Sargent joins us to discuss the effects of the pandemic and Alex Greenberger's Zombie Figuration, a confusing essay that appeared earlier this month in ARTnews. In the first half hour we discuss the disparate effects of the pandemic and general politics. Then we move on to art, zombies,  race,  and why art has limits. Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Apple Podcasts.

BIOGRAPHY

Antwaun Sargent is an art critic and a writer who has contributed to The New York Times, The New Yorker, Vice and more, as well as essays to multiple museum publications. His first book, “The New Black Vanguard: Photography between Art and Fashion” (Aperture) is out now. In April he announced a new partnership with Gagosian that will include working on four exhibitions and contributing features to their magazine.  Follow him on Twitter and Instagram. 

LISTENER ADVISORY: In this episode, Paddy Johnson occasionally repeats Antwaun Sargent’s words when his audio cuts out. This leads to periodic moments when Johnson and Sargent speak at the same time. 

LINKS

• First There Was Zombie Formalism, Now There is Zombie Figuration

• Met Apologies to Glenn Ligon

• Noah Davis

• Barkley Hendricks

• Kehinde Wiley 

• Cinga Samson

• Peter Saul 

• Alice Neal

• Jordan Casteel

• Jordan Casteel at the New Museum

EARLY WHITNEY BIENNIAL REVIEWS 

• Paddy Johnson

• Andrew Russeth

• Linda Yablonsky