06.08.23 - 04.30.24

Na’ye Perez: Purple Hearts

bric-na-ye-perez-purple-hearts-print

Exhibition Info

Support BRIC with the purchase of our inaugural limited edition screenprint by Na’ye Perez. A framed version of the screenprint will also be on view in BRIC House’s Hallway through June 2024.

Celebrating 50 years of Hip-Hop, BRIC presents a new limited edition screenprint from Cuban-Haitian-American painter Na’ye Perez. Printed by master printer Leslie Diguid of Du-Good Press, Purple Hearts is based on Perez’s acrylic painting, originally collaged with newsprint from VibeSource, and XXL magazines, hibiscus prints on rice paper, and sands collected from beaches in Los Angeles, Coney Island, and the Bronx. This coast-to-coast creation calls upon Hip-Hop’s geographical and generational roots, with gel-transferred album covers from some of the biggest names in Hip-Hop history, including The Notorious B.I.G., 2Pac, Lauryn Hill, Missy Elliot, Wu-Tang Clan, DMX, Nicki Minaj, J. Cole, Megan Thee Stallion, and more. The work takes its name from the ninth track on Kendrick Lamar’s 2022 album, Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers, and honors the everlasting legacy of Hip-Hop music and culture since its birth in the Bronx back in 1973.

Illustrating the intimate and the everyday, Na’ye Perez asks himself: “What is a shared experience? What is a moment in time that can be felt?” Purple Hearts offers us one of those moments. In it, Perez samples and remixes a scene from Spike Lee’s 1990 film, Mo’ Better Blues, when we find the trumpet-playing protagonist, Bleek Gilliam, at his lowest point, lying alone on his bedroom floor surrounded by jazz records. Through this reimagining, Perez recalls the undeniable comfort of playing on repeat and chronicles the true pleasure and healing power of Hip-Hop’s rhythm and flow.

Cindy Campbell’s invite to DJ Kool Herc’s first DJ set is featured in Perez’s print and in BRIC’s Hallway. Kool Herc is typically heralded for his role at the party where Hip-Hop was born, however, it was Cindy Campbell who acted as the party promoter, flyer designer, and strategic brains behind the legendary event. This mural draws attention to the often hidden, yet crucial role of black women in Hip-Hop, and reflects a larger effort by BRIC to broaden and deepen the discussions around Hip-Hop’s legacy and future. BRIC Hip-Hop is an evergreen home for the education, expression, and evolution of Hip-Hop. Based in Brooklyn, our programming bridges ideas and incubation to catalyze a global Hip-Hop culture.

Bios

Na'ye Perez

(He/Him)
bric-na-ye-perez-purple-hearts

Listen to the artist-curated Spotify playlist Na’ye Presents “Purple Hearts”.

ABOUT DU-GOOD PRESS
Leslie Diuguid established Du-Good Press in 2017 to offer a collaborative and fresh approach to screen printing across the arts. Focusing on a new wave of rising contemporary artists across multiple platforms, Du-Good Press is the first and only Black female owned fine art screen printing business in New York to offer hand screen printed fine art editions by emerging and mid-career artists. https://du-goodpress.com/

ABOUT BRIC
BRIC Hip-Hop is an evergreen home for the education, expression, and evolution of Hip-Hop. Based in Brooklyn, our programming bridges ideas and incubation to catalyze a global Hip-Hop culture.

Related Content

Looking Backwards, Looking Forwards: Youth Curatorial Fellowship Exhibition
Sophia-Yemisi Adeyemo: Earth & Iron: Archival Visions of Land and Struggle
Jenny Polak: Homeward Bound
bric-house-venue

647 Fulton St, Brooklyn, NY 11217

Venue Info

BRIC House is Brooklyn’s cultural living room: a 40,000 square foot multi-disciplinary arts and media complex where emerging and established artists can create work that deepens their practice and engages the diverse communities of the borough.

COVID-19 policy: Attendees of any BRIC House programming do not have to show proof of vaccination or a negative test to enter the building. Masks are encouraged but not required in all BRIC operated spaces. To learn more, visit:

BRIC IS COMMITTED TO WELCOMING PEOPLE OF ALL ABILITIES

The main floor of BRIC House has an accessible entrance on Rockwell Place, in addition to an accessible, all-gender bathroom. The BRIC Media Center, located on the 2nd floor, is accessible via elevator. The Gallery level is accessible via a wheelchair lift. Portable FM assistive listening devices are available for programs on the Stoop and in the Ballroom upon request. To make a specific access request, or to let us know other ways we can provide you with a welcoming experience, please contact Benno Orlinsky at [email protected] or (718) 683-5637.