This week's blog reflects on using your culture, traditions, friend and family to inspire your work. Making the most of what you have and developing it into world impacting art. We look at artists from non-traditional creative places, but who have become involved in shaping contemporary culture and groups who have done their own thing and made their own path in the visual arts. Sampa The Great is from Zambia, via Australia and makes incredible modern music, both sonically and lyrically, with a heavy influence on tradition Zambian culture. Virgil Abloh, from Illinois started his own fashion label, screen printing existing clothes and marketed it so well he got noticed by the biggest brands in the world. All the people in the blog are inspired by collaboration and are inspired by the traditions in their field. All things that you should be doing. All ways you can challenge the status quo. It's all about drive and determination and as you can see, if the opportunities don't appear to be there maybe you should be doing it for yourself.
MUSIC: SAMPA THE GREAT
Sampa the Great has a new album out and you you might of heard her new single on the new Wakanda Forever features. I've added some videos and imagery for you to explore. In her video for Final Form (featured) and most of her other videos and imagery she expertly crafts tradition Zambian culture into a contemporary setting. They are beautifully filmed, with modern takes on tradition dress, dance, hair styles and makeup, seemlessly placed with the real thing, which makes them incredible spectacles. The music itself is amazing too, full of traditional instruments and the lyrics talk with a pride and deep understanding of the things that have come before her.
Her song 'Let me be great' which is on the live performance below as well as the Black Panther 2 soundtrack, in it she talks about letting people have their traditions and cultures and enjoy them and if you don't just, let her do her thing. A powerfiul message and a great song.
There is lots to discover and you can find it in the best ways for you. Think about how you could use the experiences and knowledge from your past to inspire your work? How could living in the North West inspire work? Could your culture/ social group inspire work that reflects what it means to be you in 2022?
Enjoy the videos if nothing else. they are really amazing to watch.
GRAPHICS: GAIL ANDERSON
Gail Anderson is a leading Graphic Designer who works for some of the biggest and best publications in the world. Her use of text shows an incredible understanding of the history of graphic design, images that reference the Bauhaus and Milton Glaser look modern and exciting.
She enjoys to collaborate with her ideas and often works with people to ensure briefs are completed in the most interesting way.
Could you create a work, as if in collaboration with a company? How could text tell a story in your work? if you reference an artist in your work, is that clear in the meanings within?
TV: VIRGIL ABLOH: HOW TO BE BOTH
Virgil Abloh was the creative director of Louis Vitton, when he died of cancer a couple of years ago. This BBC three documentary talks about his influence and journey from DJ to Designer to Collaborator to Creative Director and one of the most important people in the fashion industry.
when you watch the programme you will see hius influence, from architecture student, he began to screen print onto Ralph Laurent shirts but under the brand Pryrex, he then Set up Off White who worked with existing sillohettes but made them their own. Much like other artists he was using established names and trends to modernise and show his importance in the fashion world. As his influence grew the big fashion brands began to colloborate and employ him, he has interesting ideas and great visual style. Nike made him a giant name before Louis Vitton put him in charge of their creative direction.
The documentary also talks about his struggle to be accepted and the prejudices he faces from, the fashion industry and media because of his colour/culture/fashion sense and socio economic background. A true triumph over adversity, before his untimely death.
Could you work with your friends to create work? What if you redesigned a classic? Do you collaborate with your other subjects? If you can't afford the clothes why not start making your own?
WEBSITE: HYPEBEAST: DRIVING CULTURE FORWARD
ENTER THE WEBSITE hypebeast.com HERE
Hypebeast is a website and magazine but they are all over the socials. It is a movement that reflects contemporary creative trands and works with brands to showcase their work.
Probably one of the most influential trend makers/ influencers they have work with everyone. The term Hypebeast started in regards to brands like Supreme, who produce small numbers of high end goods, often with a street influence. these are then showcased using the best photographers and freshest models and creative directors. If you want to be involved in contemporary fashion you can not ignore them.
Could you and your friends, be the focus of your work? What part of your life could you show and make it interesting? could you style an outfit or photoshoot in an inventive and exciting way? In Manchester, influencers are doing photoshoots throughout the city, for whatever inspired them, do you do that? if not why not?