Glenn Ligon
Skin Tight (1995)
During his residency, artist Glenn Ligon created a series of 7 regulation
weight punching bags. Collecting imagery from a variety of sources, such as
rap music, film, advertising and product logos, Ligon altered and redesigned
various words and images for the bags using a computer and by hand.
This original artwork was made into a film positive, which was then
photographically transferred to a screen using a vacuum table. The screen was
first coated with photosensitive emulsion, which was exposed to light. The
Ultraviolet light coming through the clear sections of the film positive
hardened the emulsion, and immediately after this exposure, the screen was
washed out. The emulsion was rinsed off unexposed areas, leaving areas on the
screen through which ink could pass.
The artist worked with Master Printer Virgil Marti and students to experiment
with various inks in order to print on fabrics such as unbleached canvas, black
vinyl and white satin. Finally, the bags were sewn together based on a pattern
made from disassembling a regulation weight boxing bag.
Resulting bags include a quote from Muhammad Ali from the film The Greatest,
and the word "Thuglife" in the form of the Everlast logo, alluding to the
tattoo worn by rapper Tupac Shakur. Together, these punching bags present Ligon's
investigations of race and masculinity in America.
Above: Glenn Ligon, Skin Tight, 1995. Created in collaboration with
The Fabric Workshop and Museum.
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