PWSH paves the way for tangible culturally diverse Art installations across Cardiff City
A band of culturally diverse artists have been brought together to pursue an ambitious street art project called PWSH which embraces Welsh history and represents different cultures. Street art was spotted in the capital of Wales, Cardiff’s City Centre earlier this August.
Rachel Kinchin, the Curator and Creative Producer of the project was inspired by Cardiff as a diverse and inclusive location that must reintroduce the locals and visitors to the formerly unpopular multicultural history of Wales.
PWSH, aims to bring more vibrancy, diversity and celebration of histories through their street art project also, “hopes to re-energise the City Centre” and “imagines a vibrant future for Cardiff.”
Temeka, a contributing artist in the project, shares her experience with PWSH while embracing her African cultural identity reflected in her art.
She expressed in the caption of her Instagram post,
“As always the inspo behind my work is to first and foremost help represent my curly & cozily girls and ladies.The Afro hair community is underrepresented, misunderstood, and riddled with a lack of self-love. But, not with me around!!! You’re beautiful natural because God made you this way. My heart genuinely hurts when people of any age don’t celebrate their curls. And, in turn, jumps for joy when I see girls rocking them. Natural girls actually nod to each other out of respect for the curl/coil game. However, so many people from multiple backgrounds resonate with my work and those that do see the same thing. A gentle boldness, freedom, and joy.”
Marcus Smith designed a beautiful installation at the heart of the City inspired by the Welsh architectural structures in and around the city. Marcus is a 27 year old freelance graphic designer who has his own design business called MARCA Design and is an artist of dual heritage.
Marcus talks about his experience as a black artist and shares,
“Sometimes, inclusivity in companies could be a requirement especially in light of recent events and the Black Lives Matter movement. However, companies want to be seen to be doing the right thing but many still have corporate structures, and people working there who want to maintain the status quo. So people don’t get recruited or progress because of their talents, they still face the same hurdles because of their skin colour”
The UK has changed but there are new challenges. Initially it was harder to find work perhaps as a result of being a mixed race artist but the future looks brighter.”
Marcus wishes to expand his business in the near future and aspires to get his own office space soon.
Another artist working for PWSH, Amber Forde, talked about her wish to spread happiness and joy all over the city through her art. Amber said;
“My illustrations and paintings allowed me to use colours in this project, which made my work more vivacious. It made me happy, therefore, I hope it makes others happy too.”
At the prime age of nineteen, Amber Forde is also the youngest artist contributing murals to the project. She dreams of expanding her art in the Fashion industry where she aims to reconstruct vintage clothes from charity shops or second-hand clothing stores to ultimately start a circular economy chain by up-cycling vintage clothes in her style reflecting her culturally vibrant designs.
At 19, Amber is not only an artist and designer but also an advocate for sustainability and environmentalism and a Racial Justice Activist too.
Radiating positive energy through her art, Amber Forde promotes happiness through her pieces whilst also acknowledging the struggles of a person. She self reflects and shares her experience as a mixed race teenager growing up in a locality dominated by the white community. She said;
“I grew up in a predominantly white working class area in Cardiff, but I would go to the Docks in Cardiff where my mum grew up as I felt more comfortable being myself because there were more people who looked like me and also accepted me for the person I was.”
Another artist in the PWSH team, Colin, described his work, saying,
“With these pieces, I want to celebrate the character of Cardiff and the characters in it. Cardiff has always been a melting pot— historically through the docks but also in today’s creative community and independent businesses. This is what gives Cardiff its charm and personality and Cardiff Market is a true testament to that. This is my stout out to the bold, interesting, creative, diverse, and fun-loving weirdos that make Cardiff so great!”
The woman behind the scenes, Rachel Kinchin, curated the project with an ambition to bring the community together post COVID, made sure the project was publicly accessible but safe.
She said:
“PWSH, pronounced as Push, is a platform for artists signifying tangibility and accessibility for all. Whilst also emphasizing the Abstract centrality in the installations where the Artists have the freedom to design and paint anything that inspires or holds significance to them.”
Ms Kinchin talked about her experience as a freelancer and not having the feeling of safety like regular employees at companies especially through Covid. Mental Health is a subject of utmost importance for her, as she was diagnosed with anxiety at the age of 7, thus, she aspires to build a community based on equality that provides a safe space for all.
She further talks about creative arts opportunities in Cardiff and said,
“Bigger cities do present wider opportunities and we may have limited opportunities in Cardiff but it is improving and becoming a welcoming space for artists, and that’s what I am working towards. To create cultural and creative opportunities for all communities and also I hope to show art as a profession that is not only pursued on the side, like a hobby, but also can be a profession that earns a livelihood.”
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