Looking to develop a language for fashion which is about a greater purpose and social cause, artist Jo Cope is bringing communities together through her touring exhibition Shoes Have Names.
Joining forces with Shelter, Shoes Have Names features a collection of handmade artworks inspired by the personal experiences of real people facing homelessness. Ten international artists, shoemakers and designers were paired up with a person that Shelter has helped through its frontline services.
Discussing the exhibition, Jo Cope surmised: “Shoes Have Names aims to use fashion as a positive vehicle to create greater public awareness of homelessness. It also celebrates the amazing work of Shelter. This year, as the pandemic took hold and more and more people found themselves facing their own housing crisis, Shelter’s services have never been more vital.“
Exploring the shoes created by Tabitha Ringwood, she collaborated with Kimberley who was heavily pregnant when she received a shock eviction notice. She then faced ’No DSS’ discrimination and struggled to find a landlord who accepted tenants who received housing benefits. Crafting a red stiletto repurposed from a leather sofa, the message of hope and positive change in the face of adversity is pulled from the meaning a sofa can hold for a home: a centralised sense of comfort and security, an unknown to many who are supported by Shelter.
Jo Cope’s dedication for the exhibition is to spotlight the role and responsibility fashion must uphold now more than ever: “Fashion’s role in society is changing; this fashion project reflects the need for ethical shifts in the fashion industry towards something more human-centred. Boutique by Shelter, which is already doing great things for sustainability, was the perfect partner. And naming shoes after real people supported by Shelter is a way of giving these people back their place in society and a positive identity, which can sometimes be lost by the blanket term ‘homeless.”
One of the most fascinating things about Alexander McQueen’s FW20 womenswear collection is the amount of intricacy and sentimental value each look and garment holds. “The collection is a love letter to women and to families, colleagues and friends. We went to Wales and were inspired by the warmth of its artistic and poetic heritage, by its folklore and the soul of its craft. The woman is courages , grounded, bold: heroic. There is a sense of protection in the clothes, of safety and comfort, evoked through quilting and blankets. The hearts are a symbol of togetherness, of being there for others, ” explained creative director SaraH Burton .
One of the main pieces that from the collection that embodies this sentiment is the Tailor’s Quilt, which took inspiration inspiration from the allegorical tailor’s quilt at the St Fagans National Museum of History in Cardiff that withholds a rich history of being hand-stitched over sixteen years from 1842 by master tailor James Williams with over four and a half thousand patches.
Throughout the collection the quilt is featured in two looks including a suit with single-breasted jacket and straight legged trousers and a single breasted coat with a swallow tail constructed in an embroidered patchwork of red, damson, ivory, grey and black — all created from up cycled in-house stock of British worsted wools and military flannels from past seasons. To find out more about the looks from the FW20 collection visit AlexanderMcQueen.com
Last December Fendi launched their FENDIFRENESIA Yellow Scented Baguette line in Miami and this year as follow up to that gesture , the house has once again teamed up with Maison Francis Kurkdjian for the launch of FENDIFRENESIA Pink. The addition to the line is an interpretation of the colour pink by their master-perfumer and fragrance house co-founder Francis Kurkdijan who has crafted the scent into a floral and cheerful fragrance. The new bag comes in several versions including a regular Baguette bag, a Nano Baguette and a new card case, all of which are crafted from the signature Selleria Cuoio Romano leather. The FENDIFRENESIA bag line is now available online FENDI.COM
After months of anticipation , yesterday afternoon , the moment many of us have all been waiting for finally arrived. The debut of Prada’s first collection since their announcement of Raf Simons’ appointment as co-creative director alongside Miuccia Prada. The SS21 collection was presented digitally and it seems to have ticked all the boxes of what one would imagine a Miuccia x Raf Simons collection would look like. Considering the current circumstances amidst the pandemic, a lot of the collection was shaped by the social restrictions , but the notion behind it was the idea of uniformity. The collection touched on different definitions of what a uniform should look or feel like , both through the eyes of Raf Simons as well as well as Prada being visual representations of identity as well as a representation of shared values.
Each look throughout the collection felt carefully constructed, with elements of both designers being quite evident. It was like a painting of some sort — Miuccia gave one brush stroke, followed by Raf’s splash of paint which all came together to create a picture that was not extravagant or questionable , but rather solid and finished. There were pleated skirts paired blouses with holes, hoodies paired with pleated skirts and kitten heels and many other other elements that had evident traces of both designers. Many pieces throughout the collections are held in hand , or drawn around the body, artworks by Peter de Potter one of Raf’s long time collaborators were transformed into prints but it also saw a revisiting or some of Prada’s archival prints. This collection felt like a perfect harmony, orchestrated with equal effort, perfectly setting the ground for that which is to come .
Last weekend Fashion East celebrated the twentieth anniversary of their multi-designer showcase, commemorating their work with 144 designers & brands and innovators of British fashion.
‘Looking back over twenty years of helping London’s best designers is wild! I’m incredibly grateful I’ve been able to do what I love doing best. I wouldn’t change a thing. It is an honour to get to work with and present these four fabulous talents this season. I am in awe of their visions, creativity, optimism and the resilience they have shown throughout these difficult circumstances, ’ commented Fashion East Founder Lulu Kennedy.
For the occasion , in light of the current social distancing measures, the house proceeded with this year’s SS21 showcase with a digital exhibit with a roster of four designers including up and coming names like MAXIMILIAN, GOOMHEO, Nensi Dojaka & Saulnash, each of whom brought something new to the table.
Maximillian Spring Summer 2021
Trinidadian designer Maximillian pulled on his cultural heritage with a collection that referenced Trinidad & Tobago’s annual carnival that was born from a resisistance of Eurocentric traditions following their emancipation in 1834. The collection visualised a contemporary evolution of some of the key dresses of the era including starched Jean-Baptiste Belley styled white cravats made into keyhole halter tops paired with low-slung waist pants and micro miniskirts. He paid homage to contemporary carnival costumes through details like hammered silk skirts trimmed with goose boots feathers, bralettes cut with harnessed backs & custom headpieces made by Nasir Mazhar. The collection was a celebration of Caribbean heritage and modern black identity which was also reflected in the way it was presented, which was a majestic shooting in collaboration with photographer Rafael Pavarotti & stylist Ib Kamara.
GOOMHEO Spring Summer 2021
On her second showcase with Fashion East, designer GOOMHEO took on an alternate view from her last perspective of flourishing romance for a sensuous vouyeristic timbre. She presented a collection influenced by the erotic paintings of German artist Paul Wunderlich. She translates his visions of the nude female figures with to a curvilinear heavy draped female with silk chiffon sashes , roll neck crop tops & low waistband. She created a hide and peek effect with each piece, exploring what it means to be watched and be the subject of ones attentions.
Nensi Dojaka Spring Summer 2021
On a similar note, designer Nensi Dojaka played with abstract shapes and shades around the female body. “The lightness of movement I witnessed in a Sylvie Guillem ballet at Sadler’s Wells came to mind. During lockdown from the peace of my studio, I also had the opportunity to explore the art of draping,” Dojaka explained.
The collection was composed of new capsules of swimwear, body wear and long evening dresses. Backless bodysuits , dresses and swimsuits made in lycra, with different shades of black, caramel , and sepia with sheer chiffon, stretch silk , jersey, tulle and organza. For a playful interpretation, the designer also collaborated with photographer Harley Weir and stylist Francesca Burns for a series of 12 images.
Saul Nash Spring Summer 2021
Saul Nash’s third collection with Fashion East is his Spring/Summer 21 collection entitled Flipside which he created around the qualities of movement, function and transformation.
“I wanted the pieces to open up and move, with this image in my head of men spinning in space. After lockdown I took a trip to the coast, which gave me a feeling of escapism. It made me think about transformation, about shape-shifting through what we wear,” he commented.
The collection was inspired by 1890’s dance pioneer Loie Fuller and the costumes of the Sufi whirling dervishes which led him to think how seemingly generic garments could be transformed, encouraging a sense of release. Many of the pieces literally flip, like a 3-D tracksuit which is green on one side and printed on the other, a reversible polo-shirt among others. Footwear is provided by Nike, customised by Hernan Guardamagna. Meanwhile, Saul’s shin bags are a collaboration with Raphael El Baz, and can be worn at the ankle, or alternatively on the arm.
In collaboration with Red Bull Arts New York , Jamaican stylist, designer and artist Akeem Smith is set to present his first solo exhibition entitled “No Gyal Can Test” at the Red Bull Arts New York. Set to open doors on September 24th, the exhibition is a compilation of personal photographs and videos gifted to the artist over the past decade by family members, friends and members of Kingston’s dancehall community, documenting the iconic era.
“Drawing upon his experience growing up between New York and Jamaica, Smith harmonizes disparate elements from this extensive archival documentation, which chronicles this seminal era from the early 80s through y2k, conjuring a collective memory that otherwise would have only existed on the threshold of the artist’s own. Part poem, part anthropological homage, No Gyal Can Test forms a layered exploration of spectral coloniality, diaspora, and the voyeurism that results from transposing these artefacts across cultural, economic, and temporal divides.”
The exhibit includes work in collaboration with sculptor Jessi Reacves, British fashion designer Grace Wales Bonners and musicians Total Freedom, Physical Therapy, Alex Somers and dancehall icon Bounty Killer. Visit Red Bull Arts for more information on Akeem Smith: No Gyal Can Test.
Cover image : Sthenjwa Luthuli, Untold Stories, 2020 Hand carved wood & 149 x 198cm, courtesy of Unit London
London based Gallery Unit London recently announced the upcoming opening of their exhibition The Medium is the Message — a group show 18 emerging artists exploring the role pigment and blackness plays in the expression of identity through artistic mediums. Set to open on October 2nd, the showcased has been curated by Azu Nwagbogu with the aid of assistant curators Wunika Mukan & Jana Terblanche. With the work of Wonder Buhle Mbambo, Ngozi Schommers, Barry Yusufu among many others the exhibition tells the story of a world which stigmatises Blackness & Brownness while simultaneously celebrating its cultural fruits. Each artist throughout the exhibition approaches this from unique angles, names like Collins Obijiaku for example uses portraiture, domestic settings and seemingly mundane scenes to reflect notions of identity with compositions. While many of the other artists challenge stereotypes and politicised images of black and brown people by focusing on traditions ritual and familial bonds.
Wonder Buhle Mbambo, Umthobisi, 2020 , Acrylic on canvas, 100 x 100 cm, courtesy of Unit London
Ojingiri Peter Outside the Indoor, 2020 Oil, pastel, and charcoal on canvas 152.5 x 122 cm, courtesy of Unit London
Katlego Tlabela, Tableau Vivant ll Step Ya Money Up! (After Kerry James Marshell’s Club Couple), 2020, Acrylic, ink and collage on canvas Diptych, 77 x 154cm each, 77 x 77 cm, courtesy of Unit London
Eniwaye Oluwaseyi, A Branch and Two, 2020, Oil and acrylic on canvas, 100 x 80 cm, courtesy of Unit London
Ludovic Nkoth, Holding On To Memories, 2020, Acrylic on canvas, 101.6 x 76.2 cm courtesy of Unit London
Manyaku Mashilo Sefela sa Kwantu, Invocation, 2020 Charcoal, ink, acrylic ink and paint on paper 100 x 70 cm courtesy of Unit London
‘While representation is important, it is empty if it is not succeeded by unfettered existence. This exhibition veers away from the performative power of the image and ponders existence beyond representation. The Blackness presented here is authentic, quiet, and confident. It rejects the societal gaze whereby Blackness is inextricably linked to majesty or misery with very little gradation between the two, their art unveils many facets of black existence that encompass play, solitude, contemplation and a range of human experience with approaches that do not kowtow to exoticism, but rather reflect the communities from whence they were birthed,’ explained curator Azu Nwagbogu .
For the full list of artists and further information about the exhibit visit theunitldn.com
Earlier this week Saint Laurent presented their Men’s Spring Summer 2021 collection in a digital project curated by Creative Director Anthony Vaccarello entitled “No Matter How Long The Night Is.” The collection which is presented in video format set against the various backdrops of Paris, New York & Beijing is a unique fusion of different artistic mediums including video, augmented reality, 3D lenticular imagery, street posters, flags and many others . View the full video & collection below and on ysl.com
Fendi’s latest edition of their FENDI Renaissance series was a special performance last Sunday in collaboration with the highest seat of arts studies in Japan — Tokyo University of the Arts. The performance featured students of the university violinist Rio Arai & saxophonist Kohei Ueno who were shot during a compelling performance of the Finale of Gioachino Rossini’s William Tell Overture while wearing looks for the FENDI Pre-fall 2020 collection.
They were perfectly framed with the background of the afternoon panoramic skyline in Tokyo as the event took place at the Shibuya Sky, an observation area 230 meters above the Shibuya skyline. The collaboration between FENDI and the Tokyo University of the Arts was essentially a way to give a positive message through art, fashion and music in a time where things might seem so hopeless. Watch the full performance below.
In their latest installation of their ongoing online Pause programme — a mid-week moment designed to carve out time to enjoy an artist’s work in full — Somerset House Studios has partnered with artist & filmmaker Akinola Davies Jr. on a film that documents his interactions with his mother during lockdown. In an exploration of themes of mortality , intergenerational relationship and the black female body, Davies Jr. uses his lens to tell a story of black motherhood.
“There is redemption in exploring the power of vulnerability. The passage of time and a confrontation of mortality and the eternal. This work leans on the sacrifice of motherhood. The process of ageing. The relationship of the human body with the physical space as expansive lives inhabit the daily ritual of being. It is a requiem of living memories. Homage to technology as an archive of embalming our history, bringing life to our past. It is the honouring of our mothers so our days on earth can be long. Ultimately I don’t know what the work is about, but I also know exactly what it is about. It is a work that lives in the quiet space, beyond words. It is ultimately what I place value on. The most value,” he explained. Watch the full film here.
In one of their most recent ventures, Dior revisited one of their most prized possessions – the classic Bar Jacket. Created in 1947 by the monsieur Dior himself as a part of his first Haute Couture collection , the jacket has remained one of the house’s staple pieces up until today. For the FW 20-21 show, we saw this emblematic piece re-imagined by Maria Grazia Chiuri in a new knit version. In a recently published savoir-faire video, the house takes us through the process behind the creation of the new jacket including the making of four prototypes it took in order to create the perfect one. See the full video below.
For sixth edition of their international art project SELF , curated by Anthony Vaccarello, Saint Laurent recently produced a documentary directed by Abel Ferrara entitled “Sportin’ Life.” Set to debut at Venice Film Festival this weekend the documentary is a social commentary on society while highlighting the multiple facets of individual existence through the eyes of different artists. In an exploration of the sources and personal history of creativity , the film looks at the essential life of an artist . It offers an intimate look into Ferrara’s life and his own artistic world filled with art, music, filmmaking as well as as a first hand insight on his collaborators and muses suck as Willem Dafoe, Joe Delia , Paul Hipp among others.
“I have been shooting predominately documentaries the past 10 years or so. Whatever the subject – Piazza Vittorio, Padre Pio – we also film the process itself….so our team and I are a part of it. The subject of my new documentary is the relationship I have to my work, to Willem Dafoe, and my music and art. These relationships are the starting point and I could not avoid facing what the world went through this year with the pandemic” explained Abel Ferrara.
In an alternate twist to their rooftop performance, FENDI recently teamed up with American top model Alton Mason and Chinese creative talent Mia Kong for an edition entitled “The Fendi Power” in tribute to their iconic Peekaboo bag. Shot on the colourful rooftop of Miami’s Museum Garage, the campaign sees Mason letting loose and showing off his famous dance skills wearing flexible pieces from the brand’s leisurewear that are complemented perfectly by the subtle yet bold colour palette of the black and yellow FENDI Peekaboo. He’s soon joined by Mia Kong who shows off her moves while also sporting pieces from the leisurewear line and they’re shot grooving out in celebration of the FENDI peekaboo. For more information on the iconic accessory visit FENDI.COM.
In 2018, Metallic Inc. launched Homecoming, a festival in Lagos, Nigeria combining panel talks, parties, workshops and brand activations to spotlight the influence of African music, art, sport and fashion culture around the world, bringing together up-and-coming African talent and established industry names in a celebration of creativity across the diaspora.
In the wake of COVID19, Browns Fashion have joined forces with Homecoming to present an exclusive experience of Homecoming 2020. Titled “Ni Agbaye”, meaning “in the world”, Homecoming and Browns have created what can be described as an unfolding e-zine universe, focussing on the influence that Afro culture has on global pop culture, exploring cultural exchange through the work of some of the diaspora’s most pioneering creative minds. Combining fashion editorials, online panel talks, interviews, custom artwork and in-depth think pieces from notable African publications.
Featured writing commissions will explore the exportation of African arts, culture and the impact of music by The Native, The Republic explores the disruption of narrative by African designers to carve spaces for themselves, Nigerian Gothic has created a series of collages to create new visuals with a modern guise, and the Motherlan create a photo story capturing their extended community.
Aiming to celebrate the cultural exchange of Africa with the world, there will be a physical presence through Yinka Ilori’s installation and listening takeovers in the Immersive Room by Fela Kuti and Obongjayar at the Browns East store in London, and also as ever an almighty focus on the global digital stage, with playlists from the likes of Mowalola and a focus on brand storytelling and cultural exchange from the new Nigerian brands supported online. Explore further here.
This week FENDI officially launched their first ever worldwide video and image campaign for its renown Peekaboo bag with actress and producer Zoey Deutch as lead.
Featuring a video story that speaks to Zoey during moments when she shows up her most authentic self, the journey begins with dancing decked in FENDI with the Peekaboo bag in hand , then continues with her on her way to the studio , greeting paparazzi and making her way inside. It captures the short moments before a seasoned actress takes the spotlight as she gets mentally prepared to be shot with the FENDI Peekaboo bag in the studio.
The campaign features the new Peekaboo which was presented for the FENDI Fall/Winter 20-21 collection last February, which sees updates like an accordion frame shape that opens in a “deep smile” , inside pockets etc. The new FENDI Peekaboo bag. Is currently in stores, visit FENDI.com for more info.
British photographer and director Jess Kohl is scheduled to inaugurate her first Italian solo exhibition next month under the title Anime Salve. Set to debut in Napoli, Italy the presentation is a visual documentary recollected during the last two years, intimately exploring themes of gender non-conformity in a city like Scampia where spirituality, gender and sexuality have long co-existed.
Initially her body of work began with a magnification of the concept of the Italian slang ‘femminielli’ which is a word used to describe effeminate men — often used in modern Neapolitan culture. The exhibition then takes its viewers on a journey throughout the lives of five people, most living in Scampia, as they’re framed in intimate portraits and candid shots. A woman named Alessia is documented living with her elderly mother Amalia and Kohl captures current moments of an ever-changing narrative that moves with the city that surrounds them.
Each subject was documented over a period of years, which gives an accurate scope of their personal evolution and an authentic representation of marginalised communities throughout change. Named after the famous album of Italian songwriter Fabrizio De André, the exhibition (which translates to “solitary spirits”), also includes monochromatic images documenting the architectural and developments of the Scampian landscape, an exploration of the intersection between queerness and Catholicism, and a visual map between traditions of the femminielli and modern day trans lives. It then closes with a thought-provoking ending composed of 8 portraits that bridges a sentimental connection between the lives of trans women in Napoli and trans women in Koovagam, India through cultural similarities and liberal attitudes towards gender.
Also accompanying the exhibition is a catalogue by ShowDesk, giving a more detailed scope on the documentary which includes an essay by Paolo Valerio, honorary professor of clinical psychology at the Federico II Naples University. Anime Salve will officially open its doors on September 11th 2020 at the Palazzo delle Arti Napoli.
Last weekend Prada officially announced the renovation of their ground floor boutique at the Harrods department store in London with a transformation that aligns more with their Milanese heritage. The revamped space features a black and white chequered floor, in reference to the historic Prada store in Milan, as well as 3D covering with graphics that speak to the historic prints of the house, which are paired their signature shade of boutique green.
To mark this special occasion , the house also scheduled the launch of an exclusive Prada spazzolato leather handbag , which was first seen in their SS21 digital presentation not too long ago. Carefully crafted in spazzolato leather , the accessory comes in two styles and will be sold in black , white , orchid and aqua.
If it’s one thing one can always look forward to it is the undeniable beauty behind an Alexander McQueen campaign. This season the brand tapped photographer Jamie Hawkesworth as the creative behind their Autumn Winter 2020 campaign. The campaign features models Anok Yai , Sora Choi & Jil Kortleve as they’re pictured with the striking romantic silhouettes of the AW 2020 collection against a serene English countryside background. Also front and centre is the house’s The Tall Story bag, created in line with the colour scheme of the runway. With a structor made up of sculptural lines & modern metallic handles, the elegant tote bag embodies the flexibility of being carried in hand or on the shoulder with its leather straps. The Tall Story is available in a variety of versions including black oversized quilting, black stamped croc or handmade patchwork. View the full campaign below.
Earlier this week, Selfridges marked the launch of their new global initiative Project Earth in collaboration with Prada as they inaugurated the new Prada Re-Nylon collection. Presented in the Selfridges Corner Shop in London, the collection is Prada’s line of sustainable products originally launched in 2019, which were all made from unique regenerated nylon obtained through a recycling and purification process of plastic waste from oceans, fishing nets & textile fibre waste. In their commitment to protect the environment, the Prada Group has created a line up of projects with objectives of saving energy and promoting practices of sustainability within the luxury sector.
This latest collaboration with Selfridges is solid proof of such, as they offer up a stylish selection of pieces including boots, backpacks, jumpers, skirts, buckets hats and others. The Corner Shop is an immersive experience of this sustainable Prada world with screening of short films produced in collaboration with National Geographic displayed on scenographic multiscreen large scale arches and the surfaces covered in video wallpaper showcasing the macro animations of natural elements as well as the PRADA Re-Nylon industrial process.
“The Prada Re-Nylon project brings circularity to life by teaming creativity with sustainable product innovation in the Selfridges Corner Shop. Prada brings vision to all elements of its business – sustainability is no exception – I am delighted that through this unique concept developed for our sustainability initiative Project Earth, we are able to share that vision with our customers,” explained Selfridges Executive Buying & Merchandising Director Sebstian Manes. The Prada Re-Nylon experience is currently at Selfridges Corner Shop in London.
Traditional renaissance art is a genre that was created with a central focus on European history, religion and identity which was mainly if not entirely centred around whiteness. However upon our recent discovery of the Atlanta based visual artist Osaze Akil’s work, we found ourselves moved by his method of re-framing some of these traditionally white narratives to include black identities, while also offering contemporary takes on themes of black divinity with influences from African cultures spirituality and fashion. His work speaks volumes in such a way where it uses different elements and smaller details that ultimately come together to tell stories that speak proudly to both modern & traditional black heritage and culture. Which is why Twin chose to sit down with the artist himself to gain a more accurate idea of the process, inspirations and aspirations behind his work.
Tell me about your journey, how did you first start painting ?
I’ve been painting for most of my life. As a child, my mother painted leisurely so I think I picked that up from her. I started painting for myself when I was about six or seven, but I was drawing and sketching well before that. I had all of these ideas and ways that I saw and interpreted the world, and putting them on canvas always felt like a sweet release. If I didn’t have the language [verbally], I had the language to express myself through the art I created.
Security Rising by Osaze Akil
What or who would you say is your biggest influence/s?
I have major influences that all contribute to my art in different ways. The first would be Toni Morrison. She’s one of my favorite authors and I’ve always been drawn to the mysticism that she alludes to in her work. The idea that black people have a sort of magic, that isn’t self contained, but shared and experienced communally was always something that intrigued me. With my paintings, I definitely want them to feel magical- that there’s an inherent magic that isn’t forced, but still felt by anyone looking at the piece. Another big influence of mine is Axel Vervoordt.
He is an interior designer and art collector, and often references the energy of a space or of an object being transformative. For me, I think of “spaces” more metaphorically. I think about the spaces that black people have been provided, and have been made by us for ourselves, and how they hold the weight that they do because of the energy that we’ve brought into them. Most of the subjects in my paintings are indoors, or enclosed in some sense, which reinforces my idea of us bringing our magic and our energy into the confines of our reality and making it work for us. We’re often put in boxes, and yet we make them beautiful, exciting, and influential.
Revolutionized Luxury by Osaze Akil
A lot of your work in many ways feel quite sacred, with some even holding biblical titles , what part does religion or spirituality play in your process ?
I grew up in church. Although I don’t consider myself to be a fundamentalist, I’ve always felt that I am guided, protected, and supported by something much larger than myself. My belief in God is a core part of my identity, if not the most important. I feel that God has given me a gift, which is my talent, and I honor that by referencing God’s work through me in my pieces. Painting has become not only a meditative practice for me but a form of worship. I also often reflect on the importance that spirituality has held in my culture, as an African American. Since slavery, our connection to God and the way that we worship has been the foundation for a lot of ways that we operate today, intraculturally and with the world in general.
Tignon Law by Osaze Akil
As a contemporary artist, what role would you like your work to play in modern day society ?
I feel that I’m rewriting history, and telling a new story. When walking through art museums as a child, I never saw depictions of black people being exalted, significant, worthy of comfort, or abundance. I feel that had I seen more of that growing up, I wouldn’t have lived thinking that so many positive things that we can get from life could only be afforded to me if I wasn’t who I was. I want those younger than me to have that representation, and to know that even though our past in this country started in bondage, our future can be free.
Shadrach, Meshac, and Abednego in the Fiery Furnace by Osaze Akil
What’s the part of your process that you find most exciting?
I love when I first get an idea, and I do the pre-sketch. I sketch out my paintings on paper about 4-5 times before I actually put anything on canvas. Going through that process, being introspective, and understanding what I want to say through it is very gratifying. Also, the end when it’s completed is also a very exciting feeling.
Do you have a favourite piece of yours?
I don’t think I’ve yet made my favorite piece. If I had to choose, it would be my “Madonna and Child” piece. We haven’t seen many depictions of Christ or the Virgin Mary as anything other than white. So, challenging that felt important to me.
Peaceful Isolation by Osaze Akil
How was your lockdown experience? Did you find yourself more or less inspired?
I am definitely more inspired in lockdown than before. Before, there were so many distractions and interactions that I had on a daily basis that took my mind away from creating. Now, I’m forced to sit with myself, learn new things, and focus on things in different ways which automatically sparks inspiration.
Where can one purchase your work ?
My work can be purchased on my website! osazeakil.com
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