The disparities within the reality of the Black Male is; in most cases filtered or narrated by others, and as a result have created a conflict between how others view us, versus how we view ourselves. The stereotypes created and preserved by media have not only influenced the further acceptance of Black genocide, but have also perpetuated the detrimental history of violence and enslavement endured by our ancestors.
THE MISSION
“BLACKBOY” aims to bring awareness to real voices of Black Males as they reflect to share their experience living in America. When conceptualized, “BLACKBOY” sparked an internal dialogue that reshaped the purpose and the why of my art. The vision had now become the assistance to elevating the healing of the Black male by creating a community for Black men to narrate their own story. The responses provided, I believe; will nurture a safe space for real conversations and discussions to happen. By understanding the importance of the responses, we can then transcend the stereotypes and see the reality of the “BLACKBOY”.
"Where do we fit in a society that believes the Black body is disposable?"
THE ART
My form of painting has always been from a place of escape or healing. The language became my rebellion and my way of fighting for freedom to disrupt the conformity of stereotypes. It was always a journey of self healing, and during the period between 2016 and 2020, I reflected upon the idea of reality and how its experiences are recognized from an external and internal view. My paintings were a personified journey of ancestral trauma as my work became a connection of the human experience through the subject of the Black body.
Many of the themes I challenge are grounded in the ways we experience spiritualism, our connection with nature and our natural selves. Identity, family, intimacy, memory, death, mental illness and childhood trauma.
"BLACKBOY" | 2016
"Where can we find healing when humanity is starting to look less human?"
"BLACKBOY, Gemini" | 2020
The voices of black men are an undervalued perspective in societies eye, so I wanted my work to capture the rawness of emotion existing in a space of marginalization. Stating that the lack of representation is more ruinous.
The depth of each work signifies the aesthetic of expressive abstraction. Just as dreams are abstract, consciousness is displayed within the layers curated by the freedom of directing traumatic emotion, into lines and shapes. The development of my process is the study; with each painting becoming a point of time in its evolution.
"...It dives into the subconscious of our memory; understanding that the reality we view from our eyes is very different than any other race on this planet. "
Art has a way of immortalizing the voices of its creator. I wanted to do the same for our black voices.
THE COMMUNITY
The development of “BLACKBOY” will provide space for open dialogue that will facilitate human connection and empathy. As a community our goal is to give power back to the voices of those who may feel as though they have been muted.
"BLACKBOY is about reclamation of my value. It's about the healing of the Black body. "
