“Comic Art Indigène,” a new exhibition at the National Museum of the American Indian, eschews the artifacts and relics typically featured in studies of Native American history in favor of painting a strikingly contemporary picture of American Indian art.
The small, one-room exhibit showcases modern comic art imbued with Native American history and tradition. The pieces in the assembled collection range from large, action-packed depictions of Native American superheroes to smaller, more simplistic black-and-white political cartoons. Whether delving into political diatribes or epic tales of the strong and fearless, all of the pieces are linked together by the common themes of Native American identity and empowerment.
One need be neither a comic-book connoisseur nor an authority on Native American history to appreciate this exhibit. Many of the featured artists lace their works with humor; one artist cheekily described his rendition of a muscular Tonto punching a white settler as an example of Native American superheroes “kicking butt in the postcolonial world.” Another amusing piece pokes fun at politically incorrect sports team names by depicting the face of a mascot with the team name “Whites” across the bottom of the page. While the underlying political messages are clear, this sly wit leavens the exhibit and prevents it from veering into the realm of overt preaching.
The last display in the exhibit consists of several old comic book covers depicting Native Americans as base barbarians engaged in fits of violence and savagery against white men. These stereotypical comics contrast sharply with the empowering and forward-thinking art shown in the rest of the exhibit. Although this final display serves as a rather somber reminder of America’s treatment of its indigenous people and the Native Americans’ resulting struggle to survive, it also serves as a reminder of the progress that has been made and the evokes hope for continued change.
The National Museum of the American Indian is located at 4th St. and Independence Avenue SW.
