Rashid Johnson's "Broken Men" series is a compelling continuation of his exploration into themes of identity, fragility, and the human condition, specifically focusing on the experiences and representations of black masculinity. This series emerges from his earlier "Anxious Men" works, expanding the conversation through more fragmented and abstracted forms. In "Standing Broken Men" (2020), for example, Johnson employs a mix of materials like ceramic tile, mirror tile, branded red oak flooring, spray enamel, oil stick, black soap, and wax to create figures that are at once shattered and whole, conveying a sense of resilience amidst brokenness (David Kordansky Gallery) (David Kordansky Gallery).
Each piece within the series serves as a meditation on the complexity of black male identity, navigating the spaces between personal and collective narratives, historical contexts, and contemporary realities. The inclusion of materials with personal and cultural significance, such as black soap and wax, adds depth to the works, linking them to broader African American experiences and histories. This series not only reflects Johnson's signature use of diverse media to tackle complex themes but also demonstrates his capacity to provoke thought and evoke emotion through the visual language of fragmentation and reassembly (David Kordansky Gallery) (The Metropolitan Museum of Art).
Moreover, the "Broken Men" series, along with works like "The Broken Five" displayed at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, showcases Johnson's interest in recontextualizing and gathering materials to explore notions of identity, history, and the possibilities for healing and renewal. His approach highlights the power of art to address, and perhaps mend, the fractures within individual lives and broader societal structures (The Metropolitan Museum of Art) (Home | Cleveland Museum of Art).
These pieces resonate with viewers on multiple levels, inviting them to contemplate the ways in which identities are constructed and challenged, both historically and in the present day. Johnson's work, through its intricate materiality and profound thematic exploration, continues to occupy a significant place in contemporary art, offering nuanced reflections on the human condition (David Kordansky Gallery) (David Kordansky Gallery).