Page 8 - INTERACTIVE MAGAZINE

DESIGN N THINGS.
September/October. TOPIC
8 Willow Smith – but Mars is quick to stress that it was

'art hoe' always meant to be as inclusive and positive as possible.
Although initally starting off as a movement to help
empower young black creatives, it’s now become much
bigger than that. Attracted by the slick, chromatic aes-
thetic, outcasts from across the world are now claiming
it as their own. “We made this movement inclusive for
What even is this term? everyone,” Mars explains. “The reason why we made
by Johanne Daoust
this is so everyone can participate in it and have a place
to call home.”
oogle the term ‘art hoe’ and So how exactly did it suddenly become so popu-
you’re likely to be left feeling lar? For one thing, the majority of posts that hold the
a little confused. Aside from #arthoe hashtag are selfies, which aren’t exactly known
Gan Urban Dictionary entry for changing the world. These particular ones, though,
describing “a hoe who is mysterious and come with an added twist. Whether it’s a few extra squig-
chill and like hippyish and good at art”, gles, a collage or a superimposed Van Gogh background,
there’s not much to suggest this is the these selfies have become a way for oppressed creative
start of something big. Once you scroll voices to open up and express themselves; deconstruct-
through the hashtags of Tumblr and Ins- ing damaging stereotypes and building themselves an
tagram though, it’s a whole other story. even bigger platform in the process. There are even
Accompanying the ubiquitous #arthoe whispers that it could grow to be a sort of social-media
or #artho labels are swathes upon driven Harlem Renaissance – an empowering, nurtur-
swathes of scribbled-on selfies and ing movement driven by the power of creativity.
eye-popping imagery. It turns out “I think it’s important to have something made by
‘Art Ho’ is a huge new art movement us for us,” explains artist Camilla Dunn. “I feel like
– one specifically (though not exclusively) it brings us together in a way, and since POC are the
made for POC artists, by POC artists. target for the movement it just feels good to be able to
“Usually there is a myriad of stereo- think like, ‘this is for me!!!’”
types pertaining to POC. How black And, once you speak to Mars, it’s clear to see why
people can’t be delicate, how latinx are they’re been getting so much support. Not many
no good but for cleaning and having 15-year-olds can speak so confidently about identity,
a smart mouth...” says Mars, the gender (they’re genderfluid FYI) and cultural appropri-
movement’s 15-year-old found- ation – and with the help of their Art Hoe army, they’re
er. “Non binary people of colour determined to change that. “(Art Ho) gives POC a plat-
don’t really have a stable plat- form to express their internalised struggles, which is a
form where they can prove and problem we face everyday. We don’t have a voice in this
show what they’re capable of society. It’s usually subdued by our white counterparts,
without being questioned about and our anger is taken for granted – having this move-
their identity.” ment gives people an insight into who we really are.”
With an aim to use artistic
expression as a weapon against
cultural stereotyping, the movement has
already garnered support from fellow teen
trail blazers Amandla Stenberg and

| september/october