‘The long-term exclusion of people of colour from science fiction offers up an interesting paradox […] How can a genre that imagines a future of infinite possibilities be seemingly unable to imagine a future where black people exist – or at least have any relevance?’ Gena-mour Barrett, 2018
This is the quote I stumbled across that propelled my curiosity and exploration for my project’s afro-futuristic focus.
‘Urban Futurism’ is an illustrated streetwear collection heavily inspired by the collision of Afrocentricity and Sci– Fi Futurism. My work is embedded with a yearning to reimagine the black identity and as result I have used my frustration at the lack of representation of blackness in the creative spaces like film, animation and fashion design to fuel my desire to express my interpretation of blackness in my illustrations . For so long black people have not been represented enough in the creative media and when represented, they are often portrayed in an unrealistic, sometimes brutal monolithic light that dulls the perceived black experience. I want my illustrations to ignite our society’s imagination with much more positive and diverse images of Afrocentricity in the fashion and creative industries. My projects journey is the recognition, the celebration and the affirmation of the hidden spectrum of the black identity and experience.
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