Can you share what initially inspired you to create this world and what ‘Eternity’ represents to you personally?
IO: I like to say that Eternity revealed itself to me.
How do you balance these elements to create a cohesive narrative?
Sister, Sister, Sister - Friends in Eternity
AG: Your first monograph, ‘Friends in Eternity,’ focuses on Black life across the diaspora.
How did these choices contribute to your vision of Eternity?
IO: With Friends in Eternity, it was a mix of spontaneous and staged moments.
A quiet afternoon in Santa Daeze
Other times, I would have a specific story that I wanted to see play out.
How did you conceptualize these areas, and what do they symbolize within the context of Eternity?
I was inspired by music, film & my day-to-day reality.
Dreaming towards Eternity: Friends in Eternity
For example, Luna Mira was inspired by the song ‘Afro Blue’ by Robert Glasper & Erykah Badu.
I dream of the spaces we can occupy beyond the complexities of this world.
AG: ‘Constructing Eternity’ seems to be a continuous, evolving project.
Twice Blessed - Friends in Eternity
What future developments or expansions can we expect to see in this universe?
At the same time, I’m developing more short films based in Eternity.
Moving images allow me to combine various mediums and satisfy more human senses.
Sun Soaking, Soul Searching - Luna Mira, Eternity
Have you noticed any significant changes in how this narrative is portrayed in the contemporary art world?
I would like to see more African galleries representing African artists and taking our work to fairs.
I would like to see more art residency opportunities for African artists, especially those based on the continent.
The First Journey to Eternity - Friends in Eternity
IO: The first step is to start - we should all be dreaming beyond our world.
World-building can be done in so many ways - with sound, words, visuals, physical objects etc.
Don’t feel any pressure to conform to a certain standard.
Navigating Intuition - Angelus, Eternity
That’s why it’s yours!
Close your eyes and see - Dreaming, Eternity
Luna Mira, Eternity (Image Courtesy of FÁBRICA)
Angelus and Dreaming: Regions in Eternity (Image Courtesy of FÁBRICA)
