Empowerment Through Bold Illustrations: Explore Zi Creative Vault

I believe that we have the tools right now to make a change, if people had more compassion and care for others. Community is what builds people together, specifically in moments where feelings are shared amongst everyone. As society has ventured towards individualism, the community aspect is dying out, causing everything to feel distant and disconnected. 

This illustration is meant to hone into those shared feelings and foster the spark for a community. If we are feeling like a team, then our behaviours may in turn be reflective of this. The prevalence of selfish and individualistic emotions (such as greed) tends to drive people against their community and others. But if we focus on feelings of positivity; on joy, and peace, we could produce a more positive outcome. Contrastingly, words and emotions with negative connotations can lead to community creation, but this dependent on the feeling associated to these words and the actions taken is response to said feeling. As a young black female creative, frustration is a common and reoccurring feeling. Despite the negative aspects of it, by expressing my frustration to those in my community, it allows us as individuals to bond and connect. By working together to lessen those frustrations it also is helping me look introspectively, to be a better person and to treat others better when in a frustrated state. If everyone had a community they could trust and ask for a guidance, the world might just be better place. No matter the solution we think of there is no point if the world values economic gain, short-term solutions and gratification. A shared desire to improve as a community is required for us to develop further as people, and for that to take place less emphasis must be placed on individual gain.

This illustration aims to portray the community building aspect of black hair care, more specifically the act of ‘getting your hair done’. As a black woman, the act of getting out hair done by the community is almost ritualistic, a rite of passage for all black people as a diaspora to connect and communicate with others wants and desires and have this manifest through a style of your choice. The hands reflect community care, representing the nurture and consideration of stylists. As they reach towards the young woman’s hair, they portray a shared interest in her care, emanating patience and understanding towards her. The hands word together to produce a hair style which best suits her, and the hairstyle being incomplete shows their intent to treat the hair with care, no matter how time consuming it may be. This is a portrayal of the way black hair care is often perceived as time consuming, but with the time it takes it allows bonds and community to be formed.

The hair products on top are considered staples in the black community; a bottle of oil, an afro comb and a hot comb. The hot comb originally was a tool for the maintenance of texturism and racism during a period in time, in which black hair texture was considered unprofessional and unattractive. However, as the world has evolved for the better, the hot comb has been reclaimed by the black community, allowing stylists to use it to expand their creative expression, and not as a necessity to blend into society. The afro comb reflects the symbol of black liberation and the community formulated from that. Although it is a tool for hair care, the comb was also used as a symbol during the black panther movement – creating a message of being comfortable and proud in their blackness. On the top of the comb is a Tanzanian Vinyago vya ki Makonde statue which emulates culture and ancestral connection, and that community is not bound by time constraints as the connection exists beyond death. The oils are reflective of the essential nutrients necessary for hair maintenance, as well as symbolising the way in which a community also requires maintenance and nourishment.

The jungle-istic background also reflects my presentation of community – as from my perspective it can be presented as an ecosystem. A jungle contains various plants and animals which live in cohesion and harmony, all with consideration of each other and its surroundings. The reliance and dependence on each other is beneficial for survival, and this is what I believe is needed for community to thrive. Additionally, the contrast between the dark hue and the bright colour palate aims to present that there are always going to be dark elements of a community, despite the positivity you aim to always present. However, by actively working on the dark influences and trying to decrease them overtime, the community will become a stronger, safer and more stable place.