de Saisset Museum

collection spotlight

David Huffman

Trauma Eve 2, 2003

Oakland-based artist David Huffman’s compelling paintings offer a unique glimpse into a powerful alternate world. In this futuristic universe, Huffman combines his diverse interests in astronomy, African American history, Japanese animation, and Gray’s Anatomy. His eclectic compositions explore social and psychological transformation through a variety of painting techniques.

The derogatory caricatures of African Americans from the minstrel era—such as the mammy, Zip Coon, and Uncle Tom—form the core subject matter of Huffman’s body of work. Huffman has transformed these caricatures into Trauma Smiles, named for their wide toothy grins that hide the trauma of generations of physical, emotional, and psychological pain. The Trauma Smiles navigate their own environment, operating massive robots such as Trauma Eve 2, the subject of this work. Trauma Eve 2 is a Traumabot, or analog robot operated by the Trauma Smiles. She is a powerful fighter, with nuclear-powered rockets that launch from her breastplates.

Trauma Eve 2 combines the concepts of gender and ethnic oppression within one character. Huffman named her after the biblical figure, highlighting the trauma and blame associated with the woman who was deceived into forcing mankind out of Paradise. At the same time, Trauma Eve 2’s bandana headwrap makes reference to African American slaves and domestic workers, while her exaggerated features reflect derogatory caricatures of African Americans.

David Huffman has been exhibiting his work in California and New York since 1993. Most recently Huffman’s work has been on view at the San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art; the San Jose Museum of Art; New Langton Arts, San Francisco; The Studio Museum in Harlem; and the Santa Monica Museum of Art. This important painting provides a wonderful permanent record of the de Saisset Museum’s 2004 exhibition Dark Matter: The Art of David Huffman.

Karen Kienzle
Curator of Exhibits and Collections