Armani Howard USA, b. 1993

In this portrait by African American-Thai artist Armani Howard, two ghostly figures come together within a dense, verdant grape vine to share secrets. One is hidden in the leaves; the other is hiding grapes behind their back. It’s a game of hide and seek, but who is hiding what, and who is seeking, is unclear. The painting is an abstract reflection upon the quest to find a different way of sharing dialogue, a different way of talking about memories and sharing in the presence of spirit. The title, which refers to the idiom “I heard it through the grapevine,” evokes the intuition towards gossip that overtakes people in social situations. “I never liked the context of that sentence,” says Howard. “It would always follow with some personal story, or a negative situation. Through the grapevine isn’t just verbal; it’s digital, it’s social media, every aspect of your life, what are you showcasing, what are you making available. I’m making a painting talking about how we can restructure the spreading of information, but also asking how we come to show our availability to others.”