Migration Story

Savannah to Brooklyn to Los Angeles

As a result of the untimely death of my (deceased) father’s only sister two years ago, much of my recent artwork has revolved around the concept of family. The passing of my aunt marked the end of a generation, prompting me to reflect on the lives and sacrifices made to put me in the position I’m in today. The stories that I discovered by interviewing family members and researching historical records was both moving and devastating. From being able to find the transaction record for my maternal great-great-great grandfather (when he was an enslaved child) in the early 1800’s to learning that my paternal grandfather spoke Spanish and was raised by a Cuban family in Harlem, these discoveries (and many more) are the inspiration for the work that I’m sharing today.

“Migration Story”. Digital collage/illustration, 2024.

I think about my mother’s personal journey a lot. There is no person on this planet more directly responsible for who I am today than she is. Her ambition and drive to change the circumstances she was born into are literally the only reason I exist at all. Reflecting on her personal history inspired me to create this collage, as a way to document all that she has overcome.

Born in Savannah, Georgia at the height of segregation, my mother had a set of seemingly insurmountable obstacles in her path from day one. Blessed with a desire for knowledge but lacking the means to acquire it, she had to find her own path to the life she dreamed of. This led her to pack up in her early 20’s and move to New York with my four older siblings where she would eventually meet my father. That same drive would compel her to move yet again after I was born, this time to Los Angeles where we settled permanently.

My collage work evolved out of the abstract drawings I began making during the early days of the pandemic (see my previous newsletter, “Evolution of Form”, for details).

Evolution of Form

The idea to combine these compositions with my photography archive unlocked a whole new creative direction, allowing me to explore the way both mediums interact with each other both visually and conceptually. It was a real creative breakthrough for me and has come to dominate my design/art practice.

I’m in a place creatively where the mediums I use to express myself have begun to blur. This wasn’t always the case, I struggled for YEARS trying to find a way to combine my art/design work with my photography in a way that felt right to me. It really wasn’t until I began exploring these types of collage compositions last year that it coalesced into anything resembling a coherent style. I guess the lesson is to be patient with yourself and allow your practice to evolve.

The missing element is often the passage of time.

Thank you for reading and stay well.

Peace!
Kwasi Boyd-Bouldin
www.nonstndrd.com
www.archivalrecordings.com