Portraits of Humanity
By Alfredo A. Weeks VI
As We Are. The term gives the feeling that everything is going to be ok. Or better yet, that even though no one ever had control over who they looked like, what skin color they may have or even what country they were born in, we still want to believe the world will except us for who we are. I wish this were true for all of us.
Roughly two years ago an Associate professor at the Columbus College of Art and Design Mathew Mohr had a touch of inspiration to start a journey towards an ambitious idea to use design, technology and social engagements to engage viewers through honest portraits. The project would soon reveal it’s self as a ride worth enjoying, with all of the ups and downs, problems and solutions. I can honestly say we did it for the greater good.
As ambitious as it sounds, the idea in a nutshell was to have a 14 foot tall sculpture of a human head made out of LED screens set to project honest portraits of humanity. The sculpture wouldn’t only serve as an art piece but also as a photo kiosk, found at the back of the 14 foot tall work of art. Usually, we’d get the craziest looks just to mention a project of this nature.
The face is a look through the window of human existence.
With the support from organizations and insights from artists, techies and other executive types my team at FRINGE22 were hired for branding, strategic concept development as well as researching and documenting the social good a project like this could have on the city of Columbus, Ohio.
I moved to Columbus 4 years ago and quickly realized this is the first time I had the chance to experience life in middle America. The suburbs, hoods and a mix of both make up Columbus. Coming from Washington D.C., I am used to seeing a very diverse population, but the engagement with the poor, educated and the affluent in D.C. as well as in Columbus is rare. Once you begin to shift to minority communities, the presence of poverty becomes more evident. Until I moved to the midwest. I’ve lived and worked in many neighborhoods in Columbus with minority and white residents yet there is still a strong picture of poverty on both sides. I wasn't used to seeing poverty like this back home. To be honest, back home most struggling communities are of minorities. This started to shift my own understanding of diversity not only being skin deep but economically and socially as well.
Interviews to better understand how to best introduce the “As We Are” project began to shed light on the issues regarding diversity in the Columbus. Interviewees mentioned the social divide in the city. It was made clear there were invisible borders throughout the Columbus neighborhoods. How do spaces become common for all people? A land mark, a place where citizens are comfortable and accepted. It all seems simple but very hard to conceptualize and execute.
Why can’t a rich guy be present where a poor person is just as comfortable? All while they’re at a location with a sea of people with various skin tones and ethnicities. This is true happiness to me. This is the environment the “As We Are” project aims for. As a designer, I feel like what better way is there to use my craft than for the benefit of all people. Giving visitors a brief moment of fame while an audience stands as witnesses to the humanity in these honest portraits.
Regardless of the outcome I would want to pride my team for doing a great job at bringing people together through art, technology and diverse engagements. The question I ask is, will it work? I look at many other forms of social engagement projects and initiatives and I’d have to say the tone is loud and the crowds are massive. For us, discovering the tone of voice needed to engage with the people of Columbus was what we were searching for.
Everyone deserved to be seen as they see themselves. Take it or leave it. Rich, poor, young, old, black or white these illuminated portraits gave a grand approach to appreciating our differences, while finding the beauty in every picture.
I had a sit down the other day and asked, how would designers and advertising executives contribute if the apocalypse were to happen tomorrow? There were chuckles as well as suggestions, but to be honest I’m not sure anyone truly knew the answer to the question. I thought this was a way I could continue to try and find resolve in my own profession of design and creative strategy. Day in and day out I hear of people in the advertising and graphic design industry hating their jobs. Professionals everyday working on “pointless” projects that have no effect on them or others in becoming better human beings.
Then it hit me. Creative types are the ones who are able to communicate emotions as well as narratives that can at times seem esoteric, but our audience can find themselves in many of our productions. We choose to become societies’s loud speaker. I just hope if and when any one of us come across the opportunity to use our designs for the sole purpose to be voice for the voiceless as well as the poor and the forgotten people of our society we never forget what our intentions are.
I get it, we need to pay some bills, so why support and advocate for projects that are aimed at social discourse? UUUhhhh, Because it’s the right thing to do.
We looked at the “As We Are” project and believed, everyone deserved to be seen as they see themselves. Take it or leave it. Rich, poor, young, old, black or white these illuminated portraits gave a grand approach to appreciating our differences, while finding the beauty in every picture. To see a person’s face light up because everyone is saying “wow” to their portrait is an experience worth seeing. You can tell how participants begin to see the uniqueness in themselves again, all while cheering on the mission of diversity and inclusion.
So, there are many ways we can contribute if the apocalypse were to happen tomorrow. We only have to continue to find unique solutions to keep the things that truly matter from become a big blur. Now ask yourself, If the apocalypse were to happen tomorrow how would I contribute?
