Golden Child

Love is one of the most important factors in growth and our human development, so this was a topic I was excited to research. After brainstorming countless ideas on the different types of "love" (taking reference from the seven types of love of the Ancient Greek and the four types described in the New Testament of The Bible) I decided to go forward with 'Storge' - The Love of the Child.

My experiences as a young black man have encouraged me to find out more on 'Storge' and what it means to be black father. I wanted to explore the vulnerability; the passion, the weakness, the pride, the joy and the full spectrum of emotions that come with being a father through my painting. The black father/son relationship is one not often publicised or celebrated and I recognise the importance of representing this kind of love.

I wanted to celebrate the fathers in this post, coincidentally, as Father’s Day has just passed us.

The fathers who see their children as more valuable than gold. Despite the criticisms and difficulties of being a black man in current society, many are pushing through, delivering and raising their children to be honourable, respectful, ambitious, hard working members of the community. Those that protect and provide while instilling wisdom and worth into their offsprings.

This painting is my offering to celebrating the black man's masculinity in its rawest form - the love from a man to his son.

The moments one shares with their child are amongst the times a man can be vulnerable, it provides occasions for him to show patience and understanding, show weakness and kindness. All of this with just an encounter with his child.

Moreover, in today's society many of our young people, particularly boys, are growing up without fathers or at least "father figures". The lack of a father figure is in turn is having a negative effect on the family unit and the socialisation of many young men in my community.

Therefore, I am aiming to illustrate through my painting, to the little black boys, the young black men, to the seasoned veterans and to whomever in between; know your worth! For my generation to learn to understand the value and importance we have and how our actions influence in the younger generation lives. We need to get back to a place where call each other 'brothers' and 'kings'. We need to empower our brothers and build legacies and look out for our future generations.

"I think a child should be named for his destiny so that whenever he hears his name, he has an idea of the sort of future that is expected of him." Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani - I Do Not Come To You By Chance

The artist I researched for this project was Kerry James Marshall, an American artist who's work is extremely powerful. I was drawn to the colours and "blackness" of his work. Marshall depicts everyday relationships in his work with stunning accuracy and detail all the while narrating a story. His work often appear like candid photos with how authentic and aesthetically pleasing they are. I attempted to replicate this through ‘Golden Child’ as a means to emphasise the realness of the notion.

⁃Key words: value, vulnerability, love, masculinity

#black #blackpower #fatherandson #son #father #love #afro