2 Up and 2 Back II is a selected body of work dating back to the 1980s, which traces the genesis of a two-part exhibition (Part I was shown at Disjecta Contemporary Art Center, Fall 2019). The primary theme of 2 Up and 2 Back is the systemic racial oppression of Blacks. Every time we, as a society, push forward on issues of racial inequities, the status quo pushes back, and those who have higher standing are allowed to remain in power. Arive Smith seeks to invite the viewer to examine their frame of reference and ideologies, and through this engagement, find empathy and understanding by seeing others in ourselves.
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