Accra Shepp: Bearing Witness

New York-based artist Accra Shepp explores parts of culture so well-known they have been accepted without question. Although history unravels in a predictable manner, a lack of close examination and reflection leads to the repetition of the same mistakes. Bearing Witness, an exhibition including three bodies of his work—Occupying Wall Street, The Covid Journals, and The Islands of New York—takes a deeper look at subjects often overlooked or intentionally misconstrued. 

Shepp’s photographs of the Occupy Wall Street movement depict the people who gave us the language to frame the 21st century through phrases like “income inequality” and “the 99%.” The images take the viewer beyond false narratives—nothing was accomplished, it didn’t last that long, or it was mostly young white men—and offer a more realistic portrayal. The Covid Journals chronicles the phases of the pandemic. Contagion, Hunger, Justice, Democracy, and Vaccine—these chapters trace the unexpected trajectory of events that gave birth to our collective responsibility and the recognition of the connectivity between personal and communal welfare. The Islands of New York uncovers the 45 islands that make up New York City, highlighting the city that goes unseen, even in the information age, and focusing on its landscape as the climate changes.