Moroccan-Ghanaian artist David Alabo says he uses his surrealist art created in virtual reality to explore his black identity.
Sunsets in marigold yellow and fuchsia pink; metallic-hued skulls nestled in deserts of cotton-candy sand. Silhouetted panthers prowl, whales are suspended in azure skies, and hands twist together, watched carefully by an all-seeing eye.
These are just a few of the signature motifs in David Alabo's surrealist artworks. Like the genre's most famous pioneer, Salvador Dali, the Moroccan-Ghanaian artist's work is a tapestry of symbols, which he uses to explore themes of death, isolation and the future.
But while Dali worked with mediums including oil paint, sketch and film, Alabo's work is created in a virtual reality space. The artist, who is currently based in Accra, the Ghanaian capital, uses 3D sculpting software, VR headsets, and a suite of digital editing tools to create his striking images. It's a fitting medium for his sci-fi imagery, where African landscapes take on an alien quality, with moons and planets looming in star-spangled galaxies or faded dusky skies.
Although he explores Black identity through these alternate, unconventional landscapes, his work is not about escapism, but empowerment, Alabo said.
"Sometimes, the nature of being a Black person in this world can be a surreal experience on its own," said Alabo...Keep reading on CNN Style.
Sunsets in marigold yellow and fuchsia pink; metallic-hued skulls nestled in deserts of cotton-candy sand. Silhouetted panthers prowl, whales are suspended in azure skies, and hands twist together, watched carefully by an all-seeing eye.
These are just a few of the signature motifs in David Alabo's surrealist artworks. Like the genre's most famous pioneer, Salvador Dali, the Moroccan-Ghanaian artist's work is a tapestry of symbols, which he uses to explore themes of death, isolation and the future.
But while Dali worked with mediums including oil paint, sketch and film, Alabo's work is created in a virtual reality space. The artist, who is currently based in Accra, the Ghanaian capital, uses 3D sculpting software, VR headsets, and a suite of digital editing tools to create his striking images. It's a fitting medium for his sci-fi imagery, where African landscapes take on an alien quality, with moons and planets looming in star-spangled galaxies or faded dusky skies.
Although he explores Black identity through these alternate, unconventional landscapes, his work is not about escapism, but empowerment, Alabo said.
"Sometimes, the nature of being a Black person in this world can be a surreal experience on its own," said Alabo...Keep reading on CNN Style.