Klansman (Knighthawk of Georgia, V)

Klansman (Knighthawk of Georgia, V)/ stems from a 1990 series of portraits of Ku Klux Klan members. Although the sitter is identified by his codename in the title of each photograph, an iconic hood protects his anonymity. In this image, a Klansman is presented in profile, his white hood isolated against a black background. Although Serrano’s choice of subject seems unorthodox, especially given the artist’s African heritage, his formalizing approach serves to dehumanize and abstract the politically charged sitter.