Each piece is either 1 of 1, or a limited quantity of only 86 made.
Bun Babylon Zippo
This is 1/86 “Bun Babylon” zippo lighters, These pieces are usually gifted to a selected few due to the limited amount, “Bun Babylon” is an anti establishment saying which refers to the destruction of the corrupt and oppressive system of government, With Marcia machete on one side representing the Caribbean and the phrase on the other we chose to use a zippo because during the childhood years whenever tv shows or movies displayed someone setting fire to destroying a building they always tossed a zippo to start the destruction so the zippo became symbolic as a dramatic start to what was to come.
Summerhouse Project
This was 2019 project inspired by the first TopBoy series.
We wanted to make something that was for the series but not “about” the series, We imagined an era where housing development projects and funds would have been started for low income individuals in the 80s, where there would have been merchandise given away to members of the public in support of the programmes, ribbon cutting ceremonies and all the excitement that proceeds these ventures before they are ignored and abandoned and become the gladiator school for the future children of the ethnic minorities who were placed in these accommodations, we imagined that since it would be 80’s and there was no general care design wise for merchandise that was to be gifted to the public during these ceremonies we decided to make something vintage looking with not that much excitement, a piece that struggled to be inviting, a piece that was made by a designer with minimal effort whos main focus was getting the project information on the garment which results in a simple piece such as this, now that the garment itself is Worn and stretched it really embodies the feel we were looking for.
Only 2-3 were made.
The Vest
When I started this piece about 8 years ago the idea was to have a resin dome or embroidered Marcia on the front but for the time being I used a vinyl image to hold the idea together until I could dedicate more time to it, until a recent incident made me want to revisit this project. One of my local stores was changing hands and selling out to a bigger cooperation, I walked inside to grab a couple things and asked one of the workers inside who I often greet during my visits how the process was going and why the change, he was an Indian man who shuffled around stocking shelves whenever I was there and began to explain that there was so much stealing last year that they couldn’t cope so they’re selling up, I asked him “so what is the next company going to do to prevent the theft?” And he said to me “I don’t know probably hire a big black security guard” I then laughed because I can find humour in most things but also because when I saw he himself wasn’t laughing I realised he was being serious and that he had no idea how what he said could be taken, especially when said to a black man which I am, he didn’t say a big security guard he said a big BLACK security guard. What do people see when they see Black?
Do they see fear? Which makes us suitable candidates for security posts? Is it power? Is it expendability? Black being something as replaceable as a front line soldier defending something he has no power over for a paycheck?
This is a short ballistic/stab proof vest in white with a black virgin Marcia on the front (a caribbean version of your Virgin Mary), Usually these vests are in black and the dieties white, but since that combination doesn’t seem to work as well in the community I’m from this piece represents the opposite for a hope at different results to our circumstances, Are we asking for help in the wrong places? Is that why things don’t seem to change?
Black people make up only 4.2% of the population in England yet the rest of the population seem like they’re trying to protect themselves from us Again..like the shopkeeper, What do you see when you see black? What do you feel?
Seeing A black person, A black vest, A black diety, Do you feel smothered by the culture? Is it imposing? Do you see fear? Do you see strength?
The black virgin Marcia represents the 4.2% in the middle of an all white vest, since she only takes up a small portion of the piece should the vest (the majority) be protecting the Marcia or the Black Marcia (the minority) protecting the vest?
What do you see when you see black?