THE HEART OF WAR.
INTRODUCTION.
THE “hEART OF WAR” IS A series of mixed media artworks excavating the buried memory of the Harlem Hell fighters. Guided by the autobiographical memoirs and war reportage artworks of Corporal Horace Pippin. PALO GALLERY, NEW YORK 2023.
The Harlem Hellfighters fought like demons on the frontlines of WW1’s trenches, spending more time in combat than any other uNITED STATES unit. It was in fact their fearful German opponents who named them fighters from 'Hel', following repeated catastrophes endured in territorial skirmishes on the frontline. DISSAPOINTINGLY, the story of the harlemers' success at home in the 'land of the free' was suppressed as not to glorify African American potentiality, a threat to the cultural and socioeconomic status quo as maintained by obstructive segregation laws. this false narrative, of racial inferiority in the face of exceptionalist European modernity drove young indigenous/African/Puerto Rican American men to enlist in Harlem as volunteers for the WW1 effort.
Despite offering their services, the young men were disallowed from entering the US army on the grounds of their perceived INability in organized warfare. The regiment was eventually redesignated to the French allied army which did not maintain tSalute the Harlem Hellfighters.he same policy on segregation. Under French banners the Harlem Hellfighters would prove their honor; hunting snipers, defending trenches and capturing territory in nomansland. Beyond the war, Hellfighters such as LT. James Reese Europe, a famed JAZZ composer, played significant roles in the projection of African originating musical forms nto the European continent. FURTHERMORE Hellfighters such as Henry Johnson were awarded the Croix de Guerre, France's highly esteemed military award. hENRY single handedly defending his position against a German patrol, despite running out of ammo and sustaining multiple wounds.
'It is some Job to work through that Bobwire for it is so tight. and so well put up. that it takes some time to get through but at last we made it.' - Horace Pippin.
THE RESEARCH,
Horace Pippin's Autobiography, First World War - SMITHSONIAN ARCHIVES.
THE ARTWORK.
