AN INTERVIEW WITH: GOLD MARIA AKANBI.
GOLD MARIA AKANBI, BA FINE ART, LIVERPOOL JOHN MOORES (2018). How does Diversity play a Role in Art Direction?
Well, when it comes to Art Direction the term in itself covers a broad range of industries that come under the terms ‘Arts’, sometimes overlapping into the entertainment industry - though not too much as that’s when it becomes pop culture and not everyone can pull off turning art into a popular trend. But I think that is one major impact of diversity within The Arts; changing popular culture and what is seen consumed by the masses. Plurality of choice, intersectionality and concepts of unique identity, in terms of both ethnic/natural cultures and personal constructs have made The Arts not only more appealing but more entertaining but also educating. For instance, I educate my mother on certain aspects of our ethnicity that she never knew about or that she even feared because there was no one around her that was willing to delve into the uniqueness of our culture to give her the comfort of understand, to educate her on the world that was around her. Does the creative industries cater for intersectional narratives? I think the Creative Industry is ‘attempting’ to cater to intersectional narratives. I think at times not all representation is good or even worthy representation. When it comes to the catering to or representation of the intersectional narratives, things can become skewed. Integrity and honesty comes into question. How much is for entertainment? How much is for education? How much is raw honesty? Is it really the rose and 124 // AUTONOMY, ACTIVISM & ART DIRECTION.
all its thorns or is it merely a digestible version being created in order to meet a new, popular and demanding quota. Can Art Direction be used as a tool for Activism? Art direction can definitely be used as a form of activism but if it should always be used as a form of activism is another thing. I’ve found that activism can also become a thing of contentious entertainment, trying to see how far we can trigger someone into reacting, into clicking on a link, tweet or article. Sometimes the activists I see on Twitter make the activist life seem like a Telenovela, all drama with very little hope for change. I think that’s my issue with activism in Art direction, too many lack hope for change to be using activism in the creation or curation of art to make it a successful and beneficial thing for society as a whole. Also, who is being educated? And are we reinforcing stereotypes and the same olf tropes to fit these narratives into stirile and confirmed, acceptable boxes? What is the importance of Art Directors within Activism? Well without female activists I’m sure most of the world would be without rights. Man, woman or child. From what I do know the ‘Me Too’ movement was started by females, particularly black females, though I take issue with the use of the word ‘females’, I prefer ‘women’ or the more inclusive ‘womxn’ (it might be the millenial in me but I do like to include all my sisters). I think my problem is, when does it stop becoming activism and when does it start to become
