February is Black History and Futures Month, and this year, we wanted to recognize the full complexity and emotions of this moment in time: the grief and hope, pain and progress, history and future. In this time of uncertainty and a growing need for community solidarity, this month asks us to reflect on and hold each of these feelings.
To mark this month, we asked Montreal–based graphic designer Stacy Bellanger Bien-Aimé to create a piece that speaks to the duality that many Black people and communities experience, especially during this month: the deep grief of systemic racism, global injustices, displacement, and mental health struggles, alongside the achievements, brilliance, and joy within Black communities.
“In all my collage works, I love showing POC in fun and colourful scenery for one reason: I feel that there is not enough art with people that look like me, while at the same time, I see way too much of them in sad, shocking, and/or horrible media.
For this specific collage, the brief was to show the duality between the ongoing struggles that Black individuals and communities face every day, while also representing the joy and resilience that we still brightly have inside of us. I find that duality also so relatable. We could talk as well about being glad that this month exists for us but also upset that it has too.
This is what I wanted to represent with my artwork: those multiple dualities, these constant two states of mind that Black people tend to tango between, with visuals like flowers, colours and smiles, and a direct statement and representation of fight and fearlessness. The ‘joy’ side is more prominent because, again, I love seeing people of colour in beautiful contexts, and also our unrelenting desire to be happy, strong, caring, community-oriented, no matter what’s going on–the most powerful thing about us to me.”
Thank you, Stacy, for bringing this vision to life.
Stacy Bellanger Bien-Aimé is graphic designer based in Montreal, with a passion for bright, emotion-filled collage work. To see more of her artwork, click here to get connected.
