“I wanted to acknowledge the art audience, because that was the pedigree I had studied through, but I also wanted to find a way to connect with the folks on the street. It really came down to using these quotidian, everyday objects that I could do my marking with.”

—Nari Ward

In Courtship Replay, Nari Ward assembles images of basketball cards and fragmented basketballs in abstract, quilt-like formations, utilizing curvilinear washes of black to selectively obscure these forms. By withholding something, Ward gives power and significance to the idea or element in question, forcing viewers to imagine what is hidden and re-evaluate their preconceived notions. Ward is also interested in the idea of the unseen and inaccessible, how language and signs can be at once present and visible yet concealed to those unaware of their meaning.

Similarly meaningful is the inclusion of the durag, which has evolved from a protective grooming cap to become a symbol of resilience, style, and pride within Black culture. Protruding from the durag is a peacock feather, which references how a male peacock displays his tail or train to attract females. The durag and the feather come together to manifest a complicated display of male athleticism, physicality, and sexuality.