Arthur Jafa Exposes Racial Bias in Martin Scorcese's 'Taxi Driver'
As part of a new work that reimagines the brothel shootout scene in the iconic 1976 crime drama.
Recognized for his visceral portrayals of Black Identity, Arthur Jafa’s first major Los Angeles exhibition entitled nativemanson is currently being shown at Sprüth Magers. The exhibition includes sculptures, installations and work in films including his latest visual BG (2024) where he introduces visual interjections in Martin Scorsese’s iconic Taxi Driver 1976 crime drama.
BG particularly reimagines the iconic brothel shootout scene from Taxi Driver, inserting Black pimps and clients as the targets of Travis Bickle’s (Robert De Niro) violent mission. Jafa reconstructs the scene, blending original and newly filmed footage, and taps into an earlier version of the script where the victims were originally written as Black. The film also features new sequences, with African American pimp Scar (Jerrel O’Neal) deep in thought, accompanied by Stevie Wonder’s song “As.”
Through layered, repeated sequences, Jafa exposes the racial bias in the cult film, framing it through a Black perspective. His works call attention to the tensions between white violence and Black self-possession. Other films in the exhibition continue Jafa’s signature style of montage, drawing from his vast collection of images to create powerful, thought-provoking sequences. nativemanson is on view at Sprüth Magers LA through December 14.
Sprüth Magers Los Angeles
5900 Wilshire Blvd,
Los Angeles, CA 90036
