Medium: Digital Art (AI-Generated via MidJourney, with post-processing)

Description:
These pieces explores the juxtaposition of nature and urban decay, depicting a post-apocalyptic Chicago where plants and trees have overtaken the remnants of the city’s iconic skyline. The image portrays a futuristic city where society has been destabilized by intentionally autocratization, but life continues to thrive in the form of prehistoric plants and massive vines reclaiming crumbling skyscrapers. Unlike many depictions of the future which exclude Black people, opting instead to scaffold Eurocentric and White-Dominant narratives, or depict marginalize racial groups as struggling to survive, I opt to depict Black woman as fully prepared to thrive and rebuild, because of the strength, tenacity and fortitude we’ve inherited from the generations of ancestors who, despite everything, survived.

Through the use of MidJourney's AI capabilities, I created a highly detailed, atmospheric landscape that reflects the beauty of nature reclaiming urban spaces. The scene is illuminated by the soft light of three moons, creating a serene yet haunting ambiance.

Creative Process:
I carefully crafted a series of prompts in MidJourney to generate the city's destruction and the growth of nature, focusing on creating contrast between crumbling buildings and the lush, prehistoric plants. After generating the base image, I enhanced details such as lighting, textures, and the interaction between the structures and vegetation using Photoshop, allowing me to add further depth and realism to the piece.

Key Features:

• Detailed depiction of crumbling skyscrapers with massive vines and prehistoric plants

• Dynamic lighting inspired by golden hour, enhancing the atmosphere of the scene

• A cinematic perspective, showcasing the sprawling urban decay overtaken by nature

• Hyper-realistic textures and intricate details showcasing the fusion of digital art and AI-generated visuals

Artist Note: This piece was created two weeks after the 2024 presidential elections which would see 91% of Black women vote for Kamala Harris. It was inspired by a Forbes.com article which stated that “For Black women, the stakes go beyond immediate economic pain—they’re voting to safeguard hard-won progress and prevent future harm,” and which also illuminates the idea that it is possible to “trace the resilience of Black women to their long history of political engagement rooted in advocating for policies that uplift their communities and protect civil rights”.