Aleida Hammond

Final Project

Ordinary Saints

‘Ordinary Saints’ consists of a series of photographs alongside interviews with different individuals. The interviews cover a variety of themes such as faith, love, and spirituality. The aim of this project is to create an open dialogue around how the themes relate to the contemporary world. 

Real Men Cry: Freddy

‘Real Men Cry’ displays a series of photographs surrounding mental health topics in the black community. It specifically looks at two different black men and the contrast of how society views them in comparison to how they view themselves.

Real Men Cry: Imar

Different stereotypes and misconceptions are addressed visually through photographs. It invites the audience to think about how they view people of colour and assess their own inward biases. 

Portrait: Stormzy

A portrait of the British rapper, singer, and songwriter Stormzy is displayed. The composition displays a sense of power and authority. Stylistically, painting Stormzy black and white was chosen to compliment the bold red background. Contextually it parallels looking at celebrities as human beings and not just for their status or what they do.  Additionally, the red background emphasises passion and emotion. Overall, the portrait dictates a sense of authority but also humility. This portrait is acrylic on canvas. 

Portrait: Cross To Bear

‘Cross To Bear’ is a portrait which showcases a young black woman. She displays confidence as well as hints of vulnerability. The colour purple has connotations such as royalty, power, and ambition. It also creates the feeling of trust and reliability, which contrasts the stereotypes of black women being aggressive and threatening.  Purple both calms and stimulates. This places the viewer in the right place for introspection and focused insight.

The title has a combination of meanings. It alludes to one’s own personal relationship with God and the cross one must bear to remain faithful. It also touches on the struggles black women continuously carry. It is up to the audience to also interpret what the piece could mean to them.