Reliquary is a multimedia sculptural work that confronts the tragic loss of African American men in fatal encounters with law enforcement in 2014. Drawing formal inspiration from the reliquary traditions of the Kota people of Gabon, the work functions as both a memorial and a vessel for cultural reflection. Its laser-cut, polychromed surface becomes an illuminated plane upon which projected video and sound bear witness to individual lives cut short. Archival footage, surveillance video, and 911 recordings are integrated with portraiture that affirms the humanity of victims including Eric Garner, John Crawford III, Tamir Rice, and Kajieme Powell, among others.
The soundtrack is anchored by John Coltrane’s Alabama, itself a response to the 1963 16th Street Baptist Church bombing. This historical reference links past and present acts of racial violence, underscoring the persistent trauma woven into American history. Projection mapping serves not only as a technical intervention but as a metaphor for the projected identities and societal narratives imposed on Black men and boys.
Reliquary marks the point of origin in Andrew F. Scott’s projection mapping practice, where he first established the conceptual and artistic framework that continues to shape his work. Created within the Art and Technology Program at the University of Texas at Dallas, Reliquary exemplifies Andrew F. Scott’s hybrid practice where digital fabrication, cultural research, and real-time media coalesce into deeply resonant sculptural experiences. The work stands as both a personal act of remembrance and a broader meditation on systemic injustice.