PAIR XXX // Negative Space
You guys remember those Animorph children’s books…? I took that as inspo for this pair focused on female empowerment and a sense of unity among women. The first face has the most detail in terms of facial features and hair. However as you move along to the faces next to hers, the amount of detail decreases gradually to a point where its just an outline of a face with a bold mouth. In this way, the woman with the most detailed face represents a strong leader, unapologetic and filled with courage. As you move down the line, the vague features allow any woman to envision themselves within the cycle of female strength and influence. Thanks for the idea Animorphs, you might have scared me as a child but you resurfaced on Twitter to help me create a refreshing concept that is bigger than me.
The colour way for this pair is inspired by Frank Ocean’s “Pink Matter” (and the peaches and the mangoes that you could sell for me). The women’s afros transitioned into the leaves that would lead to illustrations of mango and peach trees to symbolize organic growth and beauty. Alongside the shoe there are elements that depict a heavenly aesthetic, to compare women to the divine. Lastly, the phrase “I am a woman phenomenally” appears repeatedly on the shoes as an excerpt from Maya Angelou’s poem “Phenomenal Woman”. Here’s to being inspired by the powerful women around us - and to one day, inspire others.
(PAIR XXX // Negative Space, Huney, July 2019, Acrylic on Nike Jester Air Force Ones)