ASHE TOM on Art and BLACK INSPIRATIONS
Community Conversations
Instagram: @ashetxm
“ Art is entirely subjective...if it touches somebody enough for them to consider it art, and more importantly if the person who made it considers it to be art, then art it is.”
Roti: How would you define your expression of creativity?
Soothingly and minimally eclectic, if I were to use one phrase. Expounding a bit more I would say that I’m very much into aesthetics as a whole, specifically anything that falls under academia, cottagecore, and soft luxury. I absolutely adore color in my life, however, I tend to present myself to the world with more muted tones and neutrals. Whereas my illustrations and paintings tend to capture more of the color. Anything that enhances blackness while emphasizing the softness associated with being femme. Throw in some gorgeous plant babies, whether in real life or on a canvas, and you’ve got me!
Roti: Where do you find inspiration?
Whew! This one is a bit loaded as it truly comes from everywhere for me. My first major contemporary inspiration source would have to be the amazing creative and light being, Deun Ivory. The softness of her work, from textures to colors, and the way she presents black folks so gracefully is what really shifted my perspective and aesthetic goals. Discovering her work in 2017, along with others, guided my illustration style in a way it had never been guided before. When it comes to historic inspo Dorothy Dandridge and Diahann Carroll are women I’ve begun looking at recently. From clothing, to the way they moved and commanded respect, these women were and still are IT. I may not desire to have nearly as many diamonds or furs as they did lol, but the essence of them is something to aspire to emulate and capture for sure. At the end of the day however, I remind myself to look within. Sometimes, if we give ourselves the chance, we really can be our best source of inspiration.
Roti: Do you think there are limitations to what can be defined as “art”? Why or why not?
Absolutely not. Art is entirely subjective. Literally anything can invoke something in or from someone. Whether that be an emotion, a thought, an expression of some sort. So as much as most of us may not want to consider a banana on a wall or a blank looking canvas to be art, if it touches somebody enough for them to consider it art, and more importantly if the person who made it considers it to be art, then art it is.
Roti: What are your hopes for the way the world receives black artists and their art?
As pointed out recently by a fellow illustrator, 2020 going into 2021 has seen a significant rise in black art and artists being featured in various popularized spaces. However, I want going forward for there to be even more acceptance of black artists being nuanced. It’s getting better for sure, but we shouldn’t NEED to make art that depicts black pain, or whatever non-black folks think stereotypically represents us, in order to get just a crumb of recognition. I want to see more art that depicts black women and femmes in a soft, priceless light, as opposed to being on the frontlines of every cultural battle. We deserve and require rest too. Art that depicts more life, luxury, joy, and inclusion within the community. ALL of it. Oh, and heavy on the better opportunities and payment for black artists. “Exposure” doesn’t pay bills, feed families, or buy more supplies. Money does. And we needed that yesterday.