Beige, Webster’s New World Dictionary, 1951
by Bethany Collins
As suggested by its title, the artwork plays with the 1951 edition of Webster's New World Dictionary's definition of the word "beige." On this basis, Collins erased the remaining parts, leaving only the color residue. What remains define the word as an adjective for "grayish-tan." In this Colorblind Dictionary series, Collins intentionally selects words that describe colors to explore how different skin tones, or races, are given a black-and-white definition by so-called authoritative sources, overlooking more diverse, non-binary possibilities. The artwork questions whether these authoritative definitions are truly objective and if they influence people's understanding of color in education.
Artwork Details
Title: Beige, Webster’s New World Dictionary, 1951
Artist: Bethany Collins
Date: 2012
Medium: Ink on paper
Dimensions: 30 X 20 in.
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Artist Overview
Bethany Collins, born in Montgomery, Alabama, is a multidisciplinary artist known for her profound exploration of race and language. She completed her MFA at Georgia State University in Atlanta, Georgia in 2012. Her work deeply engages with themes of identity, race, and power, examining the biases, contradictions, and histories of violence embedded in language. Utilizing various documents, such as nineteenth-century musical scores and legal reports, Collins erases, obscures, and rewrites portions of text to highlight the complexities and tensions in the language used. Through her art, she invites viewers to reconsider the language shaping their understanding of race and identity, emphasizing the enduring impact of these constructs on society.
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