Braavi

Like some of my peers, but not many, I don’t have the traditional “origin story” of the typical artist. Growing up, I’d always dreamed of being an artist and creative, but it seemed like a dream I could never reach. I consumed almost no media except sci-fi/fantasy and nature documentaries for the entirety of my childhood, but delayed the actualization of my own creative potential based on a profound lack of self-belief. Years later I finally started, at 19, with a single sketch that gave me the spark and the esteem I needed to start so late in the race. I’ve always felt a sense of creative impostor syndrome, a feeling of being a black sheep, but I’ve been no stranger to that feeling in other parts of my life. Thus, there was no need to be afraid of it in this instance. After that one sketch, I transferred out of ecology and into the Art & Design School as soon as I could.   Since I’ve last appeared for The Miseducation Project, I think I’ve gone through several stages of metamorphosis. Some were blissful while others fell a bit short of the bar. In my previous interview, I described the stage of artistic development I was in at the time as “infantile.” At this present moment, however, it’s safe to say that I’ve entered the awkward, uncomfortable stages of growth and development associated with an approach toward adolescence. I feel sharper, I feel more equipped with the tools I need to accomplish what I demand of myself and I feel all of the other warm, gushy things that come along with the upward trajectory of life. I cannot say, however, that I know with confidence what these tools are for. This bothers me. My dilemma feels out of place. I feel out of place, to be entirely honest with myself and all of you. Despite these feelings, however, I’ve decided to lean into my journey regardless of my lack of direction. The future may be hazy, but the steps that need to be taken haven’t disappeared. There’s a fine line between being grounded and clipping your own wings. Just about as thin as the line between “insanity” and “genius.” If anything, these last months have taught me that balance is the name of the game.         “Nomad: East Wind” When confronted with this exhibit’s prompt, my mind landed on three areas: wind, the idiomatic expression “winds of change” and time. Additionally, air, wind and smoke are just immensely satisfying textures to paint/render. Much like many of my other works, I also wanted to tackle themes of heritage and ancestry. As a boy hailing from the East Coast who can trace his ancestry further eastbound toward Africa, I chose the Egyptian god of the east wind, Henkhisesui, as the basis of my imagery. Described as a man with four wings and the head of a snake, you’ll find references to this depiction within the image.   This piece, despite its lack of overly dynamic movement or grandiose atmospheric impression that I’ve attempted in other works, gives me the odd impression that it stands as a temporal marker of sorts. I feel, in a way, finally seen by myself, at least in my capacity to discern at this point in time. Although it may not be a self-portrait, this boy is very much a version of me: an eastern nomad with the lessons of time burned into his mind’s eye, carrying its inevitable changes like pendants around his neck. I lack the linguistic aptitude to make that make sense to you if it doesn’t already. For that, I apologize.