Designed by
Ashiru, Tobi
Illustrated by
Ashiru, Tobi
Subject of
National Museum of African American History and Culture, American, founded 2003
Date
2019
Medium
digital
Dimensions
H x W: 2698 pixels × 4800 pixels
File size: 52.18 MB
Description
A PNG digital illustration of the "descent view" from a project titled "Black Effect" by Tobi Ashiru. The project is an artistic reimagining of the National Museum of African American History and Culture with this view depicting the exterior of the west side of the Museum.
The rendering depicts a sunken walkway descending towards the west facing side of the museum. The wide, walled walkway extends the full width of the rendering’s foreground and narrows to convey perspective as it extends towards the museum, dividing a water feature in front of the museum. The walkway turns sharply to the right, and then left, at the water feature. Along the walls lining the walkway are renderings of enslaved figures in confined, horizontal spaces with barred windows and ladders resembling the hold of a slave ship. Crouched or crawling figures are depicted amongst horizontal rows of prone figures tightly packed together.
On either side of the walkway, bright green lawns lead toward the blue of the water feature and the façade of the museum. The first tier of the museum building on this side of the building is rendered in gray and white with diagonal black stripes. Below is a section representing Heritage Hall and part of the second tier of the museum have been rendered with wedges of cropped photographic images of green grass and white flowers giving the appearance of a living wall. The rest of Heritage Hall is rendered with tall, light blue windows and the rest of the second tier is rendered in gray and white with black diagonal stripes. The sky beyond the museum appears bright yellow and there are two trees on the far-right edge of the image with purple and white flowers planted at the base.
Place depicted
Washington, District of Columbia, United States, North and Central America
Collection title
Rendering Visible
Portfolio/Series
Black Effect
Classification
Decorative Arts, Craft, and Design
Type
architectural drawings
digital media - born digital
Topic
Architecture
Black geographies
Design
Museums
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift designed by Tobi Ashiru
Object number
2021.114.1
Restrictions & Rights
© Tobu Ashiru
Permission required for use. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd528910023-1553-4f24-8e43-1421a9f377f3

Cataloging is an ongoing process and we may update this record as we conduct additional research and review. If you have more information about this object, please contact us at NMAAHCDigiTeam@si.edu

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