Let's Use Our Voice: Black Lives Matter #1

At the beginning of June, ADCN put out an open call, asking our community to use your voice and skills, to speak up, and to come up with a strong visual idea – a statement that stands for supporting the Black Lives Matter movement. Over the next few weeks, ADCN will showcase all the art entered as part of this open call. Please help us to stop the silence and make the change. BLACK LIVES MATTER.

ALKENAH WANSING

Created in collaboration with young artist Lauryn Rae, this track expresses the black experience through the lyrics. Video: Alkenah Wansing, Arthur de Jong. Music: Lauryn Rae.

'I'm not broken, you are.'

A few years ago I was looking for a job and I got the opportunity to get one at a Nike store. Back then I was completely obsessed with everything about Nike and their sneakers. So you can imagine, I was excited as hell.

I went to the first interview and killed it, talking to the store manager and the storage manager. I could tell them about the history, philosophy, and design. I left the store with two smiling managers and a good feeling. Because now I could work at a company and brand that “moved” me in so many ways. I was told we just have to get a little paperwork done and then we could start.

A few days after I had to do some silk screening work at school and wanted to start early. I got called by the store manager. She asked if I could pass by the store to meet the regional manager. “It will just be a handshake and a short chat” I was told. So I squeezed in a little time in the morning before going back to all my deadlines at school.

So I got there, shook his hand and he told me to meet him downstairs. It ended up being another job interview. But I wasn’t fazed! I schooled him on some projects that Nike was working on and gave him everything I know about Nike and their customer service.

In the end, he told me: ‘I can see you are a smart guy and you have a lot to share about Nike. BUT I have to appeal to ALL my costumers and you will only bring in a certain type and would not be inviting for others. That’s the reason I don’t think you're a good fit for us....”

That was my biggest reality check I’ve had in years and that one HURT! The brand that signs all types of high performing black athletes to wear their shoes and clothes didn’t think I was a good fit for them. That idea was so weird to me! I went to people I trusted and all they could say is. “As long as you make choices like your dreadlocks people will judge you. The only way to avoid that is to conform to what they find acceptable. Well, that hurt me even more!

I wanted to make some art about it. With that as my experience, I picked a photo of the most cookie-cutter happy “acceptable” looking black man I could find and changed him in as many ways that I could think of. And made a poster of it.

So in other words, my message was: “Fuck your judgments and get yourself fixed because I am not broken or wrong for looking the way I look.”

CAMILLE BOUMANS

'Black Lives Matter'

See full gif here.

CHERISE SOESMAN

'Justice and Freedom, now!'

KAPOOOW

'The world from a black perspective.'

Alongside this image, KAPOOOW has compiled a list of resources which you can find here.

DENNIS BRANKO

A selection of images shot by Dennis Branko, Cake Film & Photography, at the Black Lives Matter demonstration on Dam Square, Amsterdam, 2020.

GYATSO DAVIDS

From Gyatso Davids’ photo project about toxic masculinity that aims to dismantle preconceived notions about African culture and its people by conveying them in a more vulnerable position.

If you would like to contribute, please send your art to adcn@adcn.nl.

All the best,

The ADCN Team & Board