February 2023

‘The Midnight Crusader’ - I painted these as part of a new series I’ve started working on inspired by tarot cards and their connection to black spirituality. When delving deeper into the origins of tarot cards and why they were first created I found that there’s actually a lot of mystery and uncertainty shrouding the truths behind their beginnings. Often linked to Ancient Egypt, at times having even been suggested to be a representation of the lost Egyptian book of the dead. I think, in large part because of it’s name having been connected by several historians to the Ancient Egyptian words Tar meaning "way" or "path" and Ro From the words "king" or “royal” although never actually proven. It is more recently believed to have been created in Italy and more specifically Milan in the early 15th century. But was passed around Europe reaching places such as France who then brought it over to its colonies such as Haiti and New Orleans where they were later adapted and adopted into practices within voodoo and Ifa as well as other African heritage religions In order to offer guidance, comfort and the ability to connect to ancestors that have otherwise always seemed so distant and unfamiliar. I think that’s why it became so prevalent within so many of these communities. They offered answers and guidance without having the burden of paying an astronomical amount to unload your whole life story to a stranger that falls under the guise or moniker of a therapist whose practices have within the black community long been disapproved. Often becoming the subject of controversy, taboo and debate. As well as there being an ever-growing feeling of black people universally becoming tired of constantly having to explain or reason with people to justify their perspectives or reactions taking it back to generational traumas or even situations they've had to face in the present due to the still very prevalent injustices thrust upon so many around the world who come from ethnic backgrounds.

Through my research I stumbled upon a quote by historian and practitioner Lena Munday describing tarots to be “a mirror and a map of the soul reflecting the entire spectrum of human experience”. I really resonated with this quote and felt it to be something that could be as equally relevant to describing my own works. I’ve always been fascinated with maps and the idea of using my art as a map to narrate a multitude of different stories and backgrounds floating somewhere between the realms of reality and surrealism. Which is why I gravitated towards the idea of creating my own set, using characters and notions or ideas I came across through people I have met, subjects within photographs I have come across and including other influences often used in some of my other works such as black exploitation/ foreign movies, old record sleeves and literature (from Baldwin to James Mcbride). I wanted to create my own pathways and conclusions as a portal or guide to a whole new realm of stories and opportunities.