MYTHIC FUTURES
a public artwork series by Antoine Williams
ON VIEW JUNE 3 - DECEMBER 10, 2023
The Nicholson Project presented Mythic Futures, a series of four public artworks, one in each quadrant of Washington, DC by artist Antoine Williams. Mythic Futures was an Afrofuturist and surrealist mural series that brought to life contemporary Black folklore in a moment of social, racial, and economic upheaval. These four murals served as a site for radical Black imagining in public space as a liberated act, one that is meant to subvert an untenable status quo. Each mural featured a Mythic Being, a mythological deity the artist has created that reflects contemporary Black life. Each mural came to life with accompanying augmented reality (AR) animation and audio components that viewers could interact with via Instagram. Scroll down to read about each Mythic Being and listen to the audio created by Antoine Williams.
Mythic Futures was funded by DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, Public Art Building Communities Grant Program, and, in part, with support from the National Academy of Design/Edwin Austin Abbey Memorial Trust Fund for Mural Painting.
About ANTOINE WILLIAMS
Antoine Williams is an interdisciplinary artist exploring the dynamics between the status quo and moments of subversion. His work sits at the intersection of speculative fiction, monster theory, critical Black studies and afro surrealism. He received his MFA from UNC-Chapel Hill and a BFA from the UNC-Charlotte. Antoine has exhibited at Smack Mellon Brooklyn, Prizm Art Fair, California Museum of Photography, The Mint Museum of Art, 21c Museum, and The Nasher Museum. He has been an artist-in-residence at the Joan Mitchel Center in New Orleans, The Center for Afrofuturist Studies, Elsewhere Museum, The Hambidge Center, and The McColl Center for Art and Innovation. Williams’ was also a part of the Drawing Center viewing program. He is a recipient of the Joan Mitchell Award for Painters and Sculptors, South Arts Individual Artist Career Opportunity Grant, the National Academy of Design Abbey Mural Prize and the Harpo Foundation Grant Award.
THANK YOU TO OUR PROJECT PARTNERS
LISTEN
Each mural has an accompanying audio piece written by Antoine Williams and performed by Jade Young. These sound scripts are part of the AR animation and audio that brings each mural to life via Instagram, but you can also listen to each track below.
Waseme, the Mythic Being of Intersectionality
Waseme takes the form of a sentient mass of interlocking foliage and small fauna. When summoned, Waseme will conjoin to a person’s body. While they are enveloped within Wasme, one will confront and come to terms with all their identities in what has been described as a dream-like state.
Location: 2106 Vermont Ave NW
Ayana, the Mythic Being of Culture
Ayana can be found in the form of a person but can shape-shift to a flock of birds or even a mass of foliage. Ayana is the physical manifestation of cultural knowledge and care. As a culture grows so does Ayana. They also offer advice, wisdom, and protection for the people within a culture.
Location: 2310 Nicholson St SE
Tuma, the Mythic Being of Progression
Tuma is an entity who experiences the past present and future simultaneously. Versions of their self care constantly cycling through life from birth to death, then reborn to continue this progression. They are reborn with all the knowledge of their previous selves.
Location: 800 9th St SW
Emem, the Mythic Being of Self-care
The Emem is physical embodiment of one’s physical, mental and emotional equilibrium. Emem is a figure and at least two other figures nearby. All can shift in size depending on their mental, emotional, and physical state. They must be kept in equilibrium, or they will experience extreme discomfort. When visiting a person Emem will reflect the individual’s disequilibrium and work with them until it is corrected.
Location: 1333 H St NE