NEW
NARRATIVES
Client:
British Council/ Caerbladdon
Role:
Illustrator/ Artist
Award:
New Narratives Award (2023)
Project Summary:
As part of the New Narratives programme, Caerbladon launched a competition aimed at discovering exceptional young African creatives across the UK with the goal of challenging them to expand the stereotypes and narratives surrounding Africa and its diaspora. I was honoured to be selected as one of the top four participants, each tasked with pioneering projects to enrich contemporary African stories.
My winning entry consisted of four Afrofuturistic digital paintings that vividly illustrated the unique relationship between the indigenous peoples of Southern Africa and their rapidly diminishing natural environments. Supported by a significant cash award for artist fees and production costs, my project aligned with the competition's mission by introducing fresh perspectives and reimagining traditional views, ultimately enriching the discourse on the contemporary African experience in the UK.
DUNE (Painting Timelapse)
MOTHERLAND
A scene of serene bonding, where a young boy sits closely with his mother by a tranquil lake. Painted in vibrant blues, pinks, and purples, this piece celebrates the fertile abundance of the earth, embodying the nurturing spirit of home and the beginnings of life's journey. The Mother, a symbol of strength and guardianship, adds a layer of profound meaning, reminding us of the vital connections between family, land, and the protective forces of nature.
PASSAGE
A scene of serene bonding, where a young boy sits closely with his mother by a tranquil lake, under the protective gaze of a distant hippo. Painted in vibrant blues, pinks, and purples, this piece celebrates the fertile abundance of the earth, embodying the nurturing spirit of home and the beginnings of life's journey. The hippo, a symbol of strength and guardianship, adds a layer of profound meaning, reminding us of the vital connections between family, land, and the protective forces of nature.
GUARDIAN
A reflective culmination to the series, where the boy, now aged, is seated alone atop a dune under the vast night sky. The minimalist landscape, dominated by soft, desolate hues, and the solitary figure gazing at the moon, evoke a poignant sense of introspection and the passage of time. This final piece contemplates the cycles of life and nature, the solitude of wisdom, and the silent urgency to preserve the delicate balance of our environment. It stands as a gentle yet powerful reminder of our own fleeting presence in the grand tapestry of life.
DUNE
A reflective culmination to the series, where the boy, now aged, is seated alone atop a dune under the vast night sky. The minimalist landscape, dominated by soft, desolate hues, and the solitary figure gazing at the moon, evoke a poignant sense of introspection and the passage of time. This final piece contemplates the cycles of life and nature, the solitude of wisdom, and the silent urgency to preserve the delicate balance of our environment. It stands as a gentle yet powerful reminder of our own fleeting presence in the grand tapestry of life.
Background
The New Narratives project is about opening up a future facing dialogue between young creatives and representative organisations in Africa and the UK to build stronger cultural connections between those living in the four UK nations and on the African continent. The project is looking for fresh perspectives, new insights based on lived experience and which challenge dominant narratives about Africa and the UK, including those relating to the UK’s colonial past and oversimplistic and negative representations of Africa and its diverse peoples and cultures.
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