Give Me a Minute with Roberto Lugo

Where does hip-hop intersect with Decorative Arts? It’s the type of question Roberto Lugo gets excited to explore in his work as an artist, ceramicist, and social activist. In the newest episode of Give Me a Minute, Lugo discusses his reinterpretation of the iconic Century Vase designed by Karl Mueller, which displayed an idealized representation of American identity in the U.S. Centennial Exhibition of 1876. Lugo embraces the over-the-top style of the original—including dynamic gilded eagles and “mounted” porcelain animal heads—but changes what stories are being upheld and celebrated. For example, George Washington’s profile is replaced with portraits of the Notorious B.I.G. and Jackie Robinson. Lugo’s goal isn’t to idealize the borough however. He notes, “Brooklyn, like the United States, has a complicated history, one that should be told—and represented." See both objects on view in the Decorative Arts and Design gallery on the fourth floor. Give Me a Minute is a series of conversations with artists, collaborators, staff, and other people integral to the exhibitions and programming offered at the Brooklyn Museum.