Michaela Washington Welch

PHOTOS BY NEPHTALI WAZOLA

Your work consistently challenges certain ideals whilst uplifting the communities they affect, what inspires you to continue doing so?

In my artwork I challenge ideals, that affect either myself or people within my community. I relay these ideas through an artistic process to showcase the concepts to external members of the community, and to re-literate it for those who are unaware of the issues. I tried to create a positive narrative for every challenge that occurs to motivate those who are affected, to know that their voices are heard and to uplift them to continue fighting the battle.

With so many facets of the world we live in worth confronting, how do you go about choosing your particular subject for each piece?

There are many issues that arise in the world we live in today, so I tried to direct my focus on ones that personally affect me, as I am more knowledgeable and opinionated about the affairs.

You draw on references from popular culture in a social critique, do you feel the media - particularly social media - is detrimental to certain communities?

My references to pop culture, is presented through the traditional style of pop art. That was once used to convey ideas that happened within society. There has been an ongoing debate about cultural appropriation, displaying cultural ideas that have worked against black people in many ways but were appreciated in the media and the wider social community when figures such as Kim Kardashian and Kylie Jenner presented such ideas.

Your piece, ‘Men Are Trash’, flips the popular yet polarising statement in erasing the negative generalisation of men in the modern era, what do you hope to communicate through this work?

‘Men Are Trash’ is a prevalent hashtag on Twitter. It originated from South African Twitter when women decided to use the social media platform to address numerous issues such as rape, patriarchy and domestic violence in their country.

The hashtag then became a podium to converse about the mistreatment of women in relationships with men and male’s promiscuous behaviour.

Society has accepted male toxic behaviour for decades, and women in today’s society hold men accountable. This piece represents a reprogramming system to change the narrative. As a community, we need to change the mindset and behaviour of our young men, the hashtag #menaretrash is reprogrammed to call men positive affirmations. Negative statements such as ‘men are trash’ is a frequent criticism, that is echoed in young black men’s lives. These negative statements can cause their brains to distort the truth and make it even more difficult to break the negative stigmas which encourages them to live up to the statement. The hashtag #menaretrash is erased and reestablished with positive male affirmations. To influence the young men of today to do and be better, by erasing the negative labels being used towards them.

Even your use of pop art inspired pieces, such as ‘Ass And Titties’ seem to reflect some kind of social commentary given the influence of pop art in the fashion & music industries which help perpetuate the very ideas you challenge - is this stylised choice intentional?

Ass and titties is an artistic statement used to present the ideas of sexualisation and sexual violence towards women. To disregard statements such as ‘boys will be boys’ and to educate young men on the severity of sexual violence. To let young females feel comfortable in all environments, neglecting the ideas of what she is wearing; the time she travels alone or the area she is in.

Sexualisation is linked to sexual objectification, which usually occurs when individuals are regarded as sex objects and evaluated in terms of their physical characteristics and sexiness. The sexualisation towards women is highly associated with sexual violence, which is any unwanted sexual act or activity.

The Modern-day pop art painting, illustrating the most popular sex symbols in today’s society, being an emblematic part of the era, by changing attitudes towards sexuality. The pop culture icons have changed the industry, by being extremely influential and breaking records. The style of the painting was highly influenced by Mel Ramos, in the approach of his female nudes paintings, incorporating elements of realist and abstract art.

‘The Revolution Will Be Televised’ is a moving and candid portrayal of the protests occurring out of the tragedy of police brutality, composed of various protest signs, do you feel art is a form of protest for yourself?

‘The revolution will be televised’ is based on the 2020 protests illustrating years of institutionalised racism towards black people. The protest signs give an introduction to the injustice black people have experienced for many years. The continuous

discrimination towards their race, throughout history and within present life, needs to come to an end.

They are hand-selected to articulate the discrimination and injustice for people on the outside to understand, the inequality towards black people. The artwork was my response to the events that occurred and my protest against the injustices towards black people.

What is the overarching message you hope to communicate amongst the sea of voices demanding justice?

The overarching message I am trying to convey is the way black people experience the world, to those who are unaware of the daily issues we face as a community. To educate those who are external to those issue to fully understand it from a black person’s perspective. To illustrate the positives that come with being black and being unapologetically themselves.

Which piece has been your favourite thus far?

As a collection, I will say my male empowerment section is my favourite, as I feel as if I completely conveyed the message I wanted to. Being a female and not fully experiencing the issues from a personal perspective and being able to articulate issues that arise in the male community.

As a teaching assistant, how do you feel art can help the youth of today?

I am currently completing my teacher’s training in art for secondary school. I think it is extremely important for young people to participate in creative subjects such as a visual arts and performing arts. Not only for entertainment purposes, but I think it is important for society to have a healthy outlet and expressing differences and opinions in a healthy manner. I believe this can be done through the arts as it’s an expression of peoples feelings, emotions and experiences.

This year you had your work exhibited at the Sleek Gallery in West Kensington - what is next for you?

I really enjoyed my exhibition at the gallery, the responses from the public definitely motivated me to keep producing relevant and meaningful artwork, I aspire to be an art teacher and share my talents. External to teaching, I will continue to use art as an outlet and a platform to present ideas, concepts, and emotions that others cannot articulate.

In the next two years I will create another exhibition, within that time I hope to collaborate with other young black creatives and provide an event that showcases our talents and conveys our messages to the wider community.

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