ME·LANIN

ME•LanIN

BY RAHUL SONEGRA

This book is dedicated to my mother and sister.

The women of colour in my life who inspire me the most.

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PREFACE In a world where we all deserve to see our faces represented equally, I always felt a social responsibility to use my platform as a graphic artist to foster inclusivity. I created Me·lanin to capture the beauty of women of colour, manifested in a series of collages hand cut out by me. My intention for this project was to design a body of work that celebrates the complexities of skin colour in all shades, pigments, and undertones. It's important for me as a person of colour to showcase images of people in my design practice who also don't always see themselves reflected in art, science, media, politics, and even the common workplace. I want to give thanks to Eli Frances who provided me with the stills for my collages from his film, The Last Supper: Love Drought, as well as everyone involved in his project. May Me·lanin remind every woman of colour of their beauty, potential, and self-worth.

MODELS • Maria Dalisay Payabyab Amy Velez Cristiana Alvarez Dayna Hunt Grishma Kalote Jazmine Dawkins Lajaiyah Watkins Cherry Mary Acosta Odelia Sadrach Peshawn Bread R azana Djan Reyva Jugarap Sheleia Brooks Teresa Ortega

I woke up in this, I woke up in this In my skin I can't wash it away, so you can't take it from me My brown skin — Lizzo (My Skin)

Brown liquor Brown sugar, brown face Brown liquor Brown sugar, brown braids Black skin Black Benz, black plays Black molasses, blackberry the masses — Solange (Almeda)

Brown skin girl, ya skin just like pearls Your back against the world I never trade you for anybody else Brown skin girl, ya skin just like pearls The best thing about the world I never trade you for anybody else — Beyoncé (Brown Skin Girl)

I will not have my life narrowed down.

I will not bow down to somebody else's whim or to someone else's ignorance.

— Bell Hooks

Our melanin will always make us marvelous...

Just imagine what that sea of sisterhood would look like. Magic!

— Alexandra Elle