Artwork copyright John Buck. Photo courtesy of Washington State Arts Commission, 2016.

Artwork copyright John Buck. Photo courtesy of Washington State Arts Commission, 2016.

Drum Talk, 1986

John Buck
(American, born 1946)

Location: University of Washington, Seattle

ABOUT THE ARTWORK

Drum Talk is an installation created by artist John Buck. It is part of his body of work combining painting and sculpture. This piece explores images and symbols related to the South African Apartheid (1948-1990s) and the political situation of the Black South African people. He notes, "The painting's colors are those of the African National Congress; the caged figure form in the painting represents the imprisonment of Nelson Mandela." He placed the abstract sculpture in front of the canvas to represent freedom.

This artwork was acquired for the State Art Collection in partnership with University of Washington.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Montana artist John Buck works mainly with bronze and wood. He is known for expressing his social conscience in his art by including social and political references.

Buck received his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the Kansas City Art Institute in Missouri and a Master of Fine Arts degree from the University of California, Davis. His art has been exhibited across the U.S. and is in the permanent collections of the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) in New York City, Seattle Art Museum, and many more.