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I wanted to produce a character to reflect, or at best represent the native resistance movement in western Canada. The contemporary lifestyle of native youth in British Columbia is one that is often politically charged as they are the product of a century of oppression and institutionalized elimination through assimilation. Up until barely 60 years ago, many cultural institutions, such as the Potlatch, were illegal. Furthermore, tensions continue today as land treaties are not respected. As a result, many first nations and especially the native population of Vancouver is one that is stricken by substance addiction and poverty. Among the urban native youth of Vancouver, radical political resistance movements have risen in response to strife through anarchism. It is not uncommon to be in East Van and find wheat-pastes and posters promoting events and rallies in solidarity for native rights
One spectacular event that particularly inspired me were the riots and demonstrations that occurred during the 2010 Winter Olympics, as many supporters descended upon downtown Vancouver in the symbolic form of anarchy, the black bloc
This inspired the appearance of my character and besides that I could just go on and on about the other iconography in the image, but to be succinct, the maskéhead of the figure is based on the aesthetic of the Kwakwaka'wakw nation. The head represents a supernatural man eating bird, mostly the Huxhugwaxtawe form albeit having traits of other forms (ie: Gwaxgwakwalanuksiwe), to represent not only a humourous take on the EAT THE RICH proclamation but in the ritualistic destructive dance like nature many black bloc rioters are captured in through photography and video. While using the form of raven, a trickster sort of totem, I also borrowed some aesthetic from the thunderbird to give representation to the intelligence, power and wrath of the anarchist and his motivations. While I acknowledge the character is Kwakwaka'wakw and residing in Coast Salish, specifically Musqueam territory (Vancouver), it is on purpose to reflect the contemporary reality of many native youth from British Columbia and Canada migrating from their reserves to the major cities for many personal reasons. Regardless, this was an exercise not only to work in something new and aesthetically exciting but to further deepen my understanding of my own regional history.
Submission Information
- Views:
- 898
- Comments:
- 9
- Favorites:
- 41
- Rating:
- General
- Category:
- Visual / Digital
Comments
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not only beautifully rendered but beautifully researched. i love the clarity of the mask coupled with the sketchiness of the body. nice work :>
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ah like this.
like it a lot |'3 neat imagery to begin with and love the deeper understanding being displayed with also :'> (iz very 'Traditional gallery piece'-esque) ^_^
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i love this prost. you're amazing artist, brain and heart. deep respect.
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this is pure
brilliance
!!!
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Cool pic with awesome brushstrokes and very dynamic motion with the exaggerated mask head, but then reading the significance and story behind it...seriously some brilliant work here, kudos!
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the aesthetic of the linework is executed Really well. it looks like traditional, with huge rough brushstrokes. and the juxtaposition of the mask, offsettin with its clean bold colors, really speaks well to the design
and it really says "anarchist" in its aesthetic -
I could learn a lot about character design from you, I feel.
Spectacular work, wonderful textures and marks. Really glad I saw this. -
dat hammah
atoms made a better comment than i could ever
boosh
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kim
great read, i really appreciate the research you put into this. also YOU KNOW I LOVE ME SOME KWAKWAKAWAKWs. i never read too much into the olympic riots when it was going on (i unfortunately can't handle reading too much about world events because i get prettttty upset and obsess about them and sulk and shit) but i did of course hear about it, what a farce indeed. my heart swells that the youth had an uprising, i wish i could've seen it! the indian part of my blood gleams with immense pride and you go girls.
the native situation in urban alaska is probably pretty similar (unfortunately). there wasn't a day that went by when you didn't see at least a few natives in the street, slumped over, drunk, pan handling, etc. they're often rightfully angry. it's depressing and all too easy to gloss over and forget completely. the general toward them was not a good one, like something the city wanted to erase. sure they have their museums and artifacts and all their knickknacks stored away safely in their white people owned estabz, but it's PRETTY clear that people in charge were much more concerned about preserving the past than fixing and cultivating the present. anything to drum up tourism right? too bad the damn drunks are all over the place ~ this vista would be gorgeous without the homeless indian man on that bench yonder ~ the actual truth was SO close to the surface it was sickening, and it's completely ignored. appropriating their motifs to make a buck while they get nothing. to be honest, as much as i loved living in alaska i am glad i don't have to see that every day anymore. it's just so completely depressing and fucked up, my brain can't even handle it. i could write a short essay here about how fucked up it all is but i'm going to digress here to save my sanity, haha. thank god for the youth giving a shit and taking a stand.
anyhow dude this is fantastic, and i love that you incorporated some of thunderbird's wisdom into that old tricky bird. even totems aren't one dimensional ♥