Chire Regans (VantaBlack) Interview
Portrait of a woman with long braided hair, wearing red cat-eye glasses with gold accents, large hoop earrings, and a black turtleneck, facing the camera against a plain gray background.
What does receiving an unrestricted grant at this particular moment make possible within your practice? Has it shifted the way you are thinking, working, or planning for what comes next?
When I found out that I was a recipient of this grant, my first response was complete shock, then I was overcome with feelings of confirmation. My practice is rooted in the exploration of very uncomfortable subject matter, so I constantly question whether I can emotionally sustain this type of dialogue. I question the impact, the cost, etc., receiving this grant was/is the confirmation that this work remains important and that questioning myself is a part of remaining grounded in truth. This particular moment is especially fragile for artists who are responding to what is happening around them. There is an intentional silencing of those of us who question the world around us and delve into harsh realities. Many creatives are shifting their focus to be more palatable for those leading the movement to silence. This grant is confirmation that my work is seen and valued, and must continue to expand.
How is your practice responding to, reflecting, or pushing against the current cultural and political moment?
My work specifically centers the experiences of Black women from the lens of a Black woman. The current political moment is filled with anti-Black actions. My work exists to counter that noise, which has always had a steady volume, but seems to be growing louder in this hyper-digital age.
Collective care is central to Threewalls’s work. How does that idea take shape in your own practice or community right now, and what are you hoping to build, sustain, or imagine moving forward?
Collective care is an idea that is counter to accepted norms within the artistic community. Creatives often believe that we create to compete against our peers and relationships are more transactional than authentic. The intentions I set when creating are always driven by my thoughts relating to community impact as a whole. I tell individual stories, but we are all a part of the greater community. Specifically, when I address the impact of violence on community members, there is always a conversation about the impact of how trauma enters a community and moves through it, and how we manage the care of everyone impacted. If we live in community, we are all responsible for the care of it. If it takes a village, what is your role in the village?
Leave A Comment