With Humor and Horror, Trenton Doyle Hancock Draws in Philip Guston

Trenton Doyle Hancock's "Draw Them In, Paint Them Out: Confronting Philip Guston" exhibition serves as a darkly comedic reckoning with the legacy of white supremacy. The show is an exercise in dramatic irony, highlighting the absurdity and tragedy of racial violence through vibrant, fantastical characters. Hancock's art is a twisted mirror held to Guston's work, exposing the problematic aspects of his oeuvre while also acknowledging their shared humor and satire.

Hancock's "Moundverse" universe is populated by characters that embody both the beauty and ugliness of human nature. Loid, Painter, and Torpedoboy are archetypes that warp and twist to confront the racist ideologies that spawned them. Through Hancock's art, we witness a world where the lines between good and evil blur, and the only constant is pain.

The exhibition highlights Guston's treatment of color and form, as well as his engagement in contradiction. However, it also delves into the psychology of evil and the pathology that underlies white supremacist ideology. Hancock's work arrives at this place from a different angle, using humor and satire to subvert the racist tropes that dominated Guston's oeuvre.

Throughout the show, we see Hancock's own personal evolution and that of his "Moundverse" intertwined with Guston's legacy. Torpedoboy, in particular, serves as a symbol of black male rage and resistance. The young man from Hancock's childhood who was traumatized by his mother's destruction of his beloved comics and toys, finds solace in the characters he creates.

In "Paris, Texas Fairgrounds," we see Hancock grappling with the complex history of the fair that played such a significant role in his childhood. The juxtaposition of childhood memories and historical horror serves as a powerful commentary on the ongoing legacy of white supremacy.

"Draw Them In, Paint Them Out" is not an easy exhibition to encounter, but it is essential viewing for anyone interested in understanding the ongoing struggles with racism and its impact on our society. Hancock's art is both unsettling and cathartic, serving as a testament to the power of creative expression in confronting the darker aspects of human nature.

Ultimately, this show serves as a reminder that even the most seemingly innocuous objects or events can be imbued with deep meaning and significance. The exhibition asks us to confront our own assumptions about history, racism, and art itself, and to consider how these complex issues intersect and collide in unexpected ways.

omg u think trenton doyle hancock's art is a "reckoning" lol its more like he just took all the racist crap that white ppl are afraid 2 deal with & turned it into a freakin cartoon i mean don't get me wrong, his art can be pretty trippy but isnt it kinda funny how we're still having this convo in 2025 about racism & how its "complex"

I'm obsessed with this exhibition it's like Trenton Doyle Hancock is speaking straight to my soul his "Moundverse" universe is like a dark mirror held up to our society and I mean that in the best possible way the way he weaves together humor, satire, and commentary on racism is just genius especially with how he subverts Guston's work while still acknowledging their shared roots it's like Hancock is taking all the ugly truth about white supremacy and turning it into a work of art that's both haunting and cathartic can't wait to see more of his work!

I'm not sure if it's a good thing that Trenton Doyle Hancock is using his art to critique Philip Guston's work on white supremacy . I mean, I get what he's trying to do, but some of the stuff he creates is just so dark and twisted . Like, I can appreciate the message, but it feels like he's rubbing it in our faces a bit too much. And what's with all these weird characters? Loid, Painter, Torpedoboy... they're not even real people . It feels like Hancock is trying to make some kind of point about racism and oppression, but at the same time, it's just so over-the-top that it feels like a parody of itself .

I've been thinking, this exhibition is like a weird mirror reflection of the dark past we're still dealing with today . Trenton Doyle Hancock's art is so unsettling because it shows us that even when we try to make light of stuff, there's always this underlying ugliness lurking beneath the surface . It's like he's saying, "Hey, let's talk about racism and white supremacy, but let's do it in a way that's actually funny and thought-provoking, not just preachy or heavy-handed."

But what I love about this show is how it humanizes the whole thing – it's not just some abstract concept, it's these characters and stories that Hancock has created to deal with his own trauma and anger . And by extension, we get to see ourselves in them too, because we're all connected through our experiences of racism and oppression .

It's also interesting how the show critiques Guston's work while still acknowledging its value – it's not about tearing down the past, but about building a better future . And that's what I think Hancock is really trying to do here: subvert our expectations and make us uncomfortable in the best possible way .

I'm not sure I buy into all this "confronting legacy of white supremacy" business. It just feels like a bunch of people trying to be edgy and artsy instead of actually making some real changes . And what's with the fantastical characters? Are they really meant to represent black male rage or is it just another way of avoiding actual conversations about racism? I mean, I love a good art exhibition as much as the next person, but can't we all just get along and enjoy some decent entertainment without having to be spoon-fed a lesson on social justice?

just saw this exhibit on Trenton Doyle Hancock's take on Philip Guston's work and I'm SHOOK it's like Hancock is holding up a mirror to us, showing us the dark humor and satire that's been hiding in plain sight all along. his 'Moundverse' characters are like twisted reflections of ourselves, with Loid, Painter, and Torpedoboy being these archetypes that warp and twist to confront racism it's wild how Hancock is using humor to subvert racist tropes while also acknowledging the problematic aspects of Guston's work. and man, this exhibit is not for the faint of heart but if you're willing to confront the darker side of human nature, it's essential viewing

I just saw this exhibition and I'm still trying to process everything . Trenton Doyle Hancock's work is like a wild card - it's dark, it's funny, and it's thought-provoking all at once . I love how he uses satire and humor to tackle some really heavy topics like racism and white supremacy . It's not an easy exhibition to look at, but it's definitely necessary . Hancock's art is like a mirror held up to our society - it shows us the ugly side of ourselves and forces us to confront our own biases . I'm so grateful for artists like him who are willing to push boundaries and challenge us to think differently .

I'm low-key obsessed with this new Trenton Doyle Hancock exhibit . It's like he's taking all the dark humor and satire from Philip Guston's work and flipping it on its head – literally, in some cases . The way he uses his "Moundverse" universe to subvert racist ideologies is pure genius. And can we talk about how this show is just a reflection of Hancock's own personal growth and experiences? It's like he's taking all the pain and trauma from his childhood and channeling it into something beautiful and powerful . I mean, who wouldn't want to see their childhood traumas turned into art ? It's like he's giving a voice to all the black male rage and resistance that's been suppressed for too long . Anyway, if you haven't seen this exhibit yet, you need to get on that ASAP .

I just saw this new Trenton Doyle Hancock exhibit at the platform and I gotta say, it's like a wild ride into the depths of human darkness . As someone who's always been loyal to this site, I gotta give props to Hancock for tackling some super tough subjects head-on. It's not easy to look at our own racist histories and traditions, but his art is like a wake-up call - it's like he's saying, "Hey, we need to confront this stuff if we wanna move forward." The way he uses humor and satire to subvert those toxic ideologies is pure genius. I mean, who else could make you laugh and cry at the same time? It's not an easy exhibit to encounter, but trust me, it's worth it. If you're gonna engage with this kind of stuff, you gotta do it with your whole self - emotionally, intellectually, everything.