A cage is considered a structure of bars or wires in which animals are confined. On the first trip to the space, I noticed a stack of metal bed frames and began to figure out their connection to the space. The structure of these objects evoked a sense of desperation as well as seclusion. This encompassing feeling sparked the looming theme of imprisonment and the social constructs in place to trap human beings, specifically Black men, like animals.

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A standard prison cell is 6 feet by 8 feet square. Four walls in which a person is sentenced to exist rather than live. Taking into account that African Americans are incarcerated at more than 5 times the rate of Whites, I began to consider what this space truly means. I began to contemplate how prison infrastructure and the perception of the incarcerated aids in perpetuating the perception of African American men as dangerous, untrustworthy, and predatory.  

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This oppressive space furthers the way in which our society continues to view Black men, specifically, as animals or property. Expanding on the dehumanizing conceptual elements of the structure, the radiating shadows become a part of one’s space. Captivating your gaze, one is forced to consider if they are the objectifier or the objectified.