Chekii: What inspired the ‘Hail the New Prophets’ project?
Harold: Afrofuturism, which is a cultural movement that looks at the future possibilities for black culture; it’s intertwined with sci-fi and utopian societies. In the past few years, there’s been a huge resurgence of Afrofuturism in music, literature and art.
I’m continually inspired by Sun Ra, a jazz musician from the 1950s who rejected his given name and [proclaimed] he came from Saturn. He led the musical collective The Arkestra, and, in 1972, there was a film made about his life, titled Space is the Place. It’s a hybrid film: a 1970s transportation story and an extended music video. It’s super-kitsch! Sun Ra lands on a spaceship in Oakland, which was home to The Black Panther Party, who were a 1960s racial activist group.
Chekii: How has your interest in Sun Ra influenced the piece you’re creating at Bold Tendencies?
Harold: Sun Ra was a priest-like figure, a future thinker. I’m recreating Sun Ra’s mothership, which looks like a crazy yellow eyeball but is more than a sculpture – it’s an interactive call to action, hence the name ‘Hail the New Prophets’. I’m using Sun Ra’s spaceship as a way to invite people to join in, speculate and think about alternative realities. He was a product of the racist trauma he experienced during the social unrest in 30s and 40s America. ‘Hail the New Prophets’ is an opportunity for everyone to project their view of the future. The project is intergenerational; I want a broad section of people to submit creative responses – from music to drawings and videos.