For Dyani White Hawk, Love Is an Act of Resistance

Art Review: Dyani White Hawk’s “Love Language” at the Walker Art Center

Dyani White Hawk’s solo exhibition, “Love Language,” at the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis is a profound exploration of Indigenous perspectives and cultural legacies. The exhibition is organized into four thematic sections – See, Honor, Nurture, and Celebrate – each serving as both artistic imperatives and ethical calls to action.

In the See section, viewers are invited into the vibrant cultural legacies of Native art, while the Honor section delves into enduring connections to land, lineage, and community. The Nurture section features cozy couches with throws and pillows designed by White Hawk and a video series titled “Listen,” which amplifies the voices of Indigenous women speaking in their native languages while surrounded by their ancestral lands.

One of the central motifs in White Hawk’s work is the kapémni design, a foundational Očeti Šakowiŋ symbol representing the connection between the spiritual and earthly worlds. This motif is prominently featured in the artist’s 10-foot sculptural kapémni tower, “Infinite We,” a stunning piece composed of triangular ceramic tiles in warm, vibrant hues.

In the Celebrate section, the epic canvas “Wopila/Lineage” stands out, crafted from thousands of shimmering glass bugle beads. White Hawk enlisted the help of family and BIPOC community members to string the beads, reflecting both light and the collective labor of its creation.

The Walker Art Center’s curation of “Love Language” emphasizes inclusivity, welcoming, learning, and creating positive connections. The exhibition serves as a space for healing and reflection, particularly in the current climate of racial reckoning and collective power in Minneapolis.

As the exhibition prepares to travel to the Remai Modern in Saskatchewan, Canada, it stands as a blueprint for ethical curation that centers Indigenous voices without diluting their complexities. “Love Language” continues to be a visual and conceptual milestone, showcasing the resilience and creativity of Indigenous artists.

Dyani White Hawk: Love Language is on display at the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis until February 15 before traveling to the Remai Modern in Saskatchewan on April 25. The exhibition was curated by Siri Engberg and Tarah Hogue, with support from Brandon Eng, curatorial assistant.