David Hammons - Dimensions of Black

David Hammon's cantankerous spirit has been stirring up the international art community with his artwork for some time now.  Last fall I saw one of his assemblage's in person at the Dimensions of Black show at the Manneti Shrem Museum.  It was one of those moment when I stopped and did a triple take on the piece. I spent 10 minutes to look at - Champ, 1989 and it got to the point when the sercurity guard stopped to watched me as I carried on looking at the Rubber inner tube and boxing gloves with tape. The piece is part of the collection at The Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego.
Upon arriving at the piece. I stepped back and with in ten seconds I knew it was David Hammon's work,but I had to step in to read the didactic for clarification. Now if we put this history in boxing context; hence the title of the piece and glove it would place it around the time Mike Tyson fought Frank Bruno- 02/1989. Rubber inner tube maybe viewed as resilience.
My first observation was a figure being represented possibly. Yet the effect of the inner tube seems to be hanging on the wall like a coat on a coat hanger. However given David Hammon's political and social activism in his artwork then we shall conclude this is part of his message here with the Champ.

The Champ, Assemblage.

The Champ side view