Language of Invisibility on Display

2017
Four felt-lined bulletin board panels, plastic letters, aluminum frame
16 x 20” each (set of 4)

As a Black woman in America, Jackson is often not seen nor acknowledged by her fellow citizens when in their presence. Once, while standing in line at a Whole Foods Market, a white man navigated around her and proceeded to the cashier as if she was not there. When Jackson confronted him about his egregious behavior, he condescendingly stated, “No one was here. I literally just walked up and stood in line.” In other words, he did not see her.

In response, Jackson created Language of Invisibility on Display: four bulletin boards illustrating various phrases that represent the invisibility enacted upon her being throughout the years. The black letters on the black felt evoke the concept of not being rendered legible while the signboards’ format visually communicates arresting messages. By strategically substituting certain black characters with white ones, a subliminal reading is revealed across the four panels: REFUSE ME HELP I FEEL INVISIBLE.