By Tony Jones
MEMPHIS, TN — Memphis based visual artist Ephraim Urevbu has created a transcendent work of art entitled “The Naked Truth Art Project” that may be the most essential tactile work created here since the National Civil Rights Museum. For decades now, Urevbu‘s studio and gallery, Urevbu Contemporary, at 410 S. Main, has been a mandatory downtown destination for art lovers and now it deserves traction around the world. Originally from Nigeria, he’s honored his adopted home as powerfully as the greatest musical and social voices imprinting our history.
That’s not an exaggeration. Think of the project like a great album. There are classics from Memphis no American musical catalog is complete without. Pick any of HI or Stax Records best. On those albums are usually one, two, or sometimes many standout singles that become treasures alone. That’s what Urevbu has achieved with this work.
“The Naked Truth” is comprised of more than 150 separate pieces, each telling an individual story. Working in multiple mediums from painting to tile work, utilizing techniques as varied and accessible as their story is challenging, Urevbu hopes the collection, “will open the door for dialogue, respect and a resolve to begin the healing process that is long overdue.” Even the plan to promote it around the world is a masterstroke.
The sum total is broken down into three components he explains, “The Untold Stories project takes events from the past and brings them into the future in the form of art tiles with QR codes. These tiles will be placed on designated sidewalks across the world. The idea is for people to be able to learn their history on their own time and place without pressure. A clothing line of the same concept will accompany this project. The clothes are meant to encourage exchange of ideas among all people.” says Urevbu
The end game goal will be, “An art incubator which will serve as a hub for creative minds from across the globe. Its primary aim is to empower individuals to harness their creativity collaboratively in addressing global challenges.”
Sticking to the musical analogy, one of the promotional pieces alone is worthy of worldwide attention. Titled “American Exceptionalism,” it allows the U.S. flag to pledge allegiance against senseless gun violence. In a statement of our sardonic reality, silhouettes of shooters that cause these unholy blues occupy the square; a wry statement of the delusional thought many of them have that their act makes them important. The red stripes are embedded with the locations of the police, personal and mass shootings that continually horrify the nation, and the white stripes repeat “thought and prayer” like gravesites waiting on the next inhabitant.
But it is in the title of the piece where the pure brilliance astounds. For those that don’t know, “American Exceptionalism,” is the monolith catchphrase of the radical conservative talk show hosts such as Sean Hannity, (our own native born) media pimple Ben Ferguson, that raving banshee of the night Mark Levin and the rest of Rush Limbaugh’s lowlife little Johnny Reb wanna-be’s use to stir up their hate driven audiences. Urevbu puts all of that foolishness into its vulgar context with this one piece.
And bottom line, fine art is usually reserved for the champagne set, (pretentious or not), but via the QR codes, “The Naked Truth” makes it accessible to poor and rich alike, honoring the spirit of the sanitation workers whose shoulders us and the rest of the world stand on. You cannot gush enough over work this brilliant. Just show it to anyone that enjoys spewing hatred about others, and then stand back while they catch their breath.
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