Freak Show & Black Power

From Olympus

Photo: Ana Martinez 

Styling and Creative Direction: Mario Ville (Kattaca) 

Makeup design and make up artist: Lewis Amarante for Kryolan and Pankr0 

Makeup and hairdressing: Sergio Jiménez 

The Brooklyn-based artist is working on Stolen, a series of partially filled-in depictions of Black people murdered by police. Each portrait remains incomplete as Brandon only colors one minute for each year of the subject’s life that was cut short. “Aside from being able to give the viewer a visual of the various ages affected by police violence, the timer creates a lot of anxiety for me as the artist,” he says, wondering, “’When is the timer going off?’ ‘Will I be able to finish this eye?’ ‘Damn, I haven’t even gotten to the lips yet.’” In a note to Colossal, Brandon expanded on the project:

Although this anxiety may seem minor in that the consequences for me are very low, it does really have an effect on me. Anxiety is a feeling that black people are far too familiar with, and to experience that feeling while illustrating these portraits allows each piece to feel like a performance. A lot of Black people are forced to live with this anxiety and accept it as part of our every day. But these feelings build up and are exhausting. I shouldn’t have to do a prayer every time I see police pursuing a Black person in the streets. I shouldn’t feel anxious when the police are talking to a person of color. I shouldn’t feel so damn anxious that I remove my hat and jewelry when the cops pull me over. I shouldn’t feel so anxious that I would second guess calling the police if I ever needed to. This series is pulling me in, in ways that art has never done.

https://twitter.com/coff33detective/status/1271463582312673281

Newly Released Police Body Cam Footage Shows Moments Before Rayshard Brooks Was Murdered by Police

For those who don’t know, Rayshard Brooks, 27 yr old father of, was shot and killed by an Atlanta police officer at a Wendy’s parking lot in Atlanta Friday night.

In the video, Mr. Brooks is seen calmly and politely speaking with Officers after falling asleep at a Wendys parking lot because he said he was “Too intoxicated to drive.” The officers could have done the right thing and stayed with him until someone picked him up, allowed him to walk to his home (which he offered to do) or even offered him a ride home, but instead they decided to escalate the situation and kill him. 

Source / Source / Full Video

“I want to thank every single one of you for coming out. This is very important, this is very vital. Black lives have always mattered. We have always been important. We have always meant something. We have always succeeded, regardless. And now is the time. I ain’t waiting! I AIN’T WAITING! I’ve been born in this country. I am 28 years old. Born and raised in London. Every black person understands and realizes the first time you are reminded that you are black. You remember. Every black person in here remembers when another person reminded you that you were black. I need you guys to understand- I need you to understand how painful this shit is. I need you to understand how painful it is to be reminded every day that your race means nothing and that isn’t the case anymore, that is never the case anymore. We’re going to try today. We are a physical representation of our support for George Floyd. We are a physical representation on our support for Sandra Bland. We are a physical representation on our support for Trayvon Martin. We are a physical representation of our support for Stephen Lawrence. For Mark Duggan. It is very very important that we keep control of this movement, and we make it as peaceful as possible. We make this as peaceful and as organized as possible. Because you know what, guys? They want us to mess up. They want us to be disorganized. But not today! NOT TODAY! Not today! This message is specifically for black men: black men, black men we need to take care of our black women. We need to take care of- They are our hearts! THEY ARE OUR HEARTS! They are our future. We cannot demonize our own. We are the pillars of the family. Imagine this, a nation that is set up with individual families that are thriving, that are healthy, that communicate, that raise their children in love have a better rate of becoming better human beings. And that’s what we need to create. Black men, it starts with you. It’s done man, we can’t be trash no more. We have to be better. You don’t understand? I’m speaking to you from my heart. Look, I don’t know if I’m going to have a career after this, but f**k that! Today is about innocent people who were halfway through their process. We don’t know what George Floyd could have achieved, we don’t know what Sandra Bland could have achieved, but today we’re going to make sure that that won’t be an alien thought to our young ones. You lot came today, you left your kids, and when you see your kids they’re aimlessly playing, they don’t understand what’s going on. Today is the day that we remind them that we are dedicated and this is a lifelong dedication. Guys, we don’t leave them stop you now. This is longevity. Some of you are artists, some of you are bankers, some of you are lawyers, some of you own shop stores. You are important, your individual power, your individual right is very, very important. We can all join together to make this a better world.

Thank you for coming out today. Thank you for your support. To us. Black people I love you. I appreciate you. Today is an important day, we are fighting for our rights. We are fighting for our ability to live in freedom. We are fighting for our ability to achieve. We are fighting for equality. And you are the physical representation of that. NO JUSTICE, NO PEACE! Today is the day that we stand. We walk. It’s not about career, it’s not about money, it’s about your right to live as a human being.”