Greater Than Our Fears: Kah Yangni

What does it mean to meet the moment of now? BIPOC communities across the nation are feeling the worst impacts of the coronavirus pandemic. The richness of our cultural and family stories and traditions can help guide us through crisis, death, and grief. In quarantine, many people have turned to plants and nature as a source of wisdom, care, healing, and joy.

‘Grow’ is inspired by artist @KahYangni’s knowledge of plants that grow after fire. Though this moment is challenging, we are building communities of care. There is life and hope amidst crisis, loss, fear, and fire.

“2020 was very hard, and I wanted to make art that is about building after a great loss in this new year- not ignoring that loss, but still pretty hopeful." - @KahYangni, a Queer Cameroonian American illustrator based in Philadelphia, PA.

We know how to build from ashes, how to make green things grow. BIPOC communities have a deep legacy of building communities of care, reciprocity, joy, and love. What will you grow from the ashes? 🔥🌱

Today we’re uplifting ‘Grow’ as part of #GreaterThanOurFears. These art commissions are organized by the Constellations Network in response to the current political & cultural moment in order to amplify BIPOC artists nationwide. The Constellations Network is convened by by Center for Cultural Power, @RaceForward, @Ignite_Arts Dallas, @BRICTV, @Firelight_Media, Detroit Narrative Agency @detnarrative, @1stPeoplesFund, @IntelligentMischief, and the Surdna Foundation, working together to unite artists, cultural strategists, social justice leaders, and funders to build collective power through artist empowerment and cultural strategy.

#Constellations #GreaterThanOurFears #ProtectMotherEarth #CultureIsPower #KahYangni #QTPOC #Philly #WeArePowerful #ArtistPower #Grow