Past, Present, and Future: Thoughts from the Curator

Last year, Hennepin History Museum commissioned Past, Present and Future: The Fruit of my Blessings from local artist Daren Hill as part of his exhibit, The Bond Between Us, which will be closing in a few months. Before these works go into storage, I’d like to share some musings I’ve had about them since they’ve been on display. 

In 2016, Daren inherited a vast collection of photos taken by his grandfather, photographer Forrest Hill, and felt inspired to create something with them. Years later, this project became The Bond Between Us, which presents some of the inherited photos alongside those of Daren and his father Gregory, combining the work of three generations of local Black artists. According to Daren, “This project looks to the past to create something new or a way to be in the present…I am creating new works that tie this bond between us together.  It is a way to continue this legacy of my elders’ work and honor them, but it also plants seeds for the future.”

For Past, Present and Future, Daren used a digital collaging process. He states “I started with my father’s and grandfather’s photographs, as well as my own, and then added text and objects…The beauty of this technique is in the process… You give that image a new life or power to be something other than what it once was.”

Daren’s works are a welcome addition to the Museum and will be unique amongst our collection of art. They certainly complement The Bond Between Us, creating a juxtaposition of past and present that reinforces the theme of the exhibit. However, they also invite an evaluation of their merit on their own.

In these four works, the use of mixed media, gestural lines, and bold colors creates a first impression of vibrancy. It is obvious that Daren is inspired by street art, but at the same time his thoughtful manipulation of digital images communicates something more intimate. Overall, their layered complexity guarantees they will evoke contrasting responses in the viewer. This is not uncommon in art, but in this case unavoidable, especially when one appreciates the intention of the artist and of his attention to detail. 

Perhaps the most striking detail present throughout these four works is how Daren obscures the eyes, which reenforces but complicates the gaze between subject and viewer. This approach could feel disconcerting for the viewer, however, considering Daren’s affection for his subjects, the experience feels more like a connection rather than a confrontation. For Portrait of Dawn, Daren presents a photograph of his mother, taken by his father, and developed by his grandfather. Daren states, “I added copper leaf in her eyes and around parts of the canvas to highlight the strength and power of a mother. This portrait symbolizes my mother’s importance in my life and how we must honor Mother Earth.”

This creative intentionality and attention to detail make for a captivating viewing experience. Depending on the viewer, the many details included throughout Past, Present and Future will resonate differently, and I invite you to visit The Bond Between Us before it closes to look for yourself.

By: Alyssa Thiede

2/1/24