WHY I DID THIS
FOR A LONG TIME, I FELT LIKE I WAS STANDING BETWEEN CULTURES, LANGUAGES, AND GAZES — YET NOT TRULY BEING SEEN.
I GREW UP WITH THE QUIET BUT PERSISTENT QUESTION: “WHERE ARE YOU REALLY FROM?”
IN FASHION, IN SPORT, IN POSTURE, AND IN THE GAZE OF MY COMMUNITY, I HAVE ALWAYS RECOGNIZED A SUBTLE FORM OF RESISTANCE — AND PRIDE.
THE DIASPORA DRESSED IS MY ATTEMPT TO MAKE ALL OF THIS VISIBLE.
THE DIGNITY WITHIN CLOTHING.
THE HISTORY WOVEN INTO FABRIC.
THE DEFIANCE IN HOW WE CARRY OURSELVES.
THESE ARE PORTRAITS — BUT MORE THAN THAT, THEY ARE LOVE LETTERS TO THOSE WHO CHOOSE, EVERY DAY, TO EXIST FULLY PRESENT:
BLACK, BEAUTIFUL, COMPLEX, LOUD OR QUIET.
I ALSO CREATED THIS WORK BECAUSE I WANTED TO BREAK FREE FROM THE LABEL “HE’S JUST THE FOOTBALL GUY.”
YES, I LOVE FOOTBALL. BUT I AM NOT ONLY THAT.
I FEEL AT HOME IN BOTH WORLDS — ON THE PITCH AND BEHIND THE CAMERA, IN ANALYSIS AND IN AESTHETICS.
I DON’T WANT TO CHOOSE BETWEEN THEM. I WANT TO CONNECT THEM.
THIS EXHIBITION BECAME MORE THAN A CREATIVE MILESTONE.
IT IS A PERSONAL STATEMENT:
I’M HERE. WE ARE HERE. AND WE ARE TELLING OUR STORIES OURSELVES — THROUGH IMAGES, THROUGH PRESENCE, THROUGH PRIDE.
