About Selena Scott

I believe that art holds immense revolutionary power as it is a visual language that has no boundaries when connecting people. I aim to redefine the portrayal of Black people through the use of oil painting, a medium traditionally reserved to perpetuate western ideals - rejecting the victim identity associated with racism and instead displaying self-determination. I use my work to navigate the Black identity through the lens of trauma, racism, and colonialism. Exploring themes such as afro-pessimism and prejudice, I reference their direct connection to colonisation, utilising narrative to shed light on the Black experience. I allow the viewer to search for meaning, through symbols and loaded imagery, enabling interrogation and connection with the work. Empathy and sensitivity are at the core of my practice, using colour and light to convey emotional turmoil. Taking inspiration from the theories of Frantz Fanon in his books 'The Wretched of the Earth' and 'Black Skin, White Masks', I primarily focus on the socially normalised preconception to associate 'black' with 'wrong'.