Night at the Museum

An artwork that invoked a strong emotional reaction within me was “Bound” by Kehinde Wiley. When I fist saw this sculpture, I was struck by its striking display of connectivity and, on a superficial level, it’s bizarre shape. The captivating shape, however, gave way to feelings of awe and understanding. By showing three figures connected by their hair, it reminded me that people are “bound” by their culture in a way that connects them rather than restricts them. The cultural identity shown through everyday items such as our hairstyles and clothing connects us to others from the same culture, even if we all differ. Because of this message of connectivity through culture, I felt powerful emotions of understanding and respect towards my own culture and people like me. Furthermore, it reminded me that, on a grander scale, we are all connected culturally as New Yorkers. Thus, we are all “bound” by our culture even if our cultures differ as New York is born from the sum of its parts. The sculpture allowed me to reconcile with both my own personal culture and my culture as a New Yorker, thus invoking my strong emotions of connectivity and understanding among my own people and people different from me.