Kendrick pays tribute to henry taylor
Rather than relying on visual stimuli centered around videos and digital effects, Kendrick Lamar's current tour takes a unique approach, using unfurling fabric as a canvas to unveil paintings portraying Black figures caught in various forms of suggestive gazes and confrontational stares, engaging with anyone who meets their gaze.
Kendrick Lamar in front of Henry Taylor’s Fatty, 2006 painting. Photo Credit: Greg Noire
Mike Carson, the show director and co-designer alongside Lamar and his longtime collaborator Dave Free, explained, "We aimed for a show that didn't rely on LED walls or similar elements—just backdrops gradually revealing themselves during the performance, evoking a low-fi, theatrical, old-Broadway aesthetic. When you attend a festival or a show, there are predictable sights. What I appreciate about Kendrick and Dave is their constant questioning of how to turn expectations on their head. Given that festival-goers might witness the same visuals for hours before Kendrick's 11 p.m. performance, how can we provide a fresh experience?"
Lamar's connection with Henry Taylor began during a studio visit the previous year. The idea of collaborating on the current tour emerged as they sought a departure from the elaborate "Big Steppers Tour" and aimed for a more straightforward approach. Carson noted, "Henry is a Kendrick fan, and there's mutual respect and admiration between them. They were both genuinely enthusiastic."
Working in tandem with Lamar and Free, Carson crafted a conceptual sketch. Taylor's team at the Hauser & Wirth gallery then contributed artwork suggestions. Once the selection process concluded, Carson orchestrated the enlargement of the artworks and their printing on polyester silk, an adaptable material that could be transported and unraveled onstage. "Some pieces were printed at a scale of 60 feet wide by 34 feet tall, allowing audiences to appreciate the intricate details at an unprecedented magnitude," Carson remarked. "The poly silk enhances colour vibrancy and remains lightweight for travel. It's also secure enough that even if strong winds arise, Kendrick won't be affected."
Kendrick Lamar in front of Henry Taylor’s Fatty, 2006 painting. Photo Credit: Greg Noire
Taylor's works—also showcased in Pharrell Williams's recent inaugural menswear collection for Louis Vuitton—initially debuted during Lamar's performance at Primavera Sound in Barcelona and continued to feature at Lollapalooza in Chicago. Subsequent shows are scheduled throughout North America and Asia in the coming months.
Carson emphasised that Henry Taylor's art harmoniously complements Lamar's lyrical narratives and unparalleled storytelling, manifested through rap. "Henry's adept use of colour and storytelling resonates deeply. His art carries a homemade, relatable quality that encapsulates the tales within his pieces," Carson noted. "In a world where much is impeccably polished or excessively stylised, and often digitally generated, I find the narrative authenticity in Henry's art. As a Black man, I personally connect with the historical and familial narratives it portrays, and I'm confident others do as well."