Austin Martin White

Executed in striking tones of violet, green and blue, Austin Martin White’s large-scale work on paper 'ferris wheel' depicts what at first glance appears to be an amusement park as the title suggests. Upon closer inspection it is revealed to be a ferris wheel in the form of a tire. Specifically, The Uniroyal Giant Tire, an iconic roadside attraction located in Allen Park, Michigan, near Detroit, the artist’s hometown.

The tire was first presented at the 1964 World's Fair in New York, where it functioned as a Ferris wheel, with 24 gondolas carrying up to 96 riders at a time. After the fair, it was reassembled as a static display at its current location. As in other works by the artist, Austin Martin White comments on the industrial and cultural history of Detroit, his birthplace, and its impact on Black identity. This is evident in works that repurpose or nod to colonial materials, such as rubber, to create new perspectives on collective memory. The colonial context of the automotive industry plays a crucial role in understanding Detroit's socioeconomic situation. During the early 20th century, Detroit's growth was driven by the automotive boom, which attracted a diverse workforce, including African Americans seeking better opportunities. However, systemic racism and discriminatory practices limited economic mobility for many of these workers. The industry's insatiable demand for inexpensive labor, coupled with an unrelenting focus on profit maximization, precipitated widespread labor exploitation and deplorable working conditions. In his work, White grapples with the complex histories that shape our present, exploring and reworking images that shape our historical memory.