Flahn Manly

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“Fire!! / LIBERATE” by Flahn Manly captures his vision of Blackness reimagined. Flahn wanted to portray a powerful and visceral expression of emotion through the portrait of a Black man in a moment of intense release, his head thrown back, mouth wide open, as if unleashing a primal scream. He used dynamic shades of gray to emphasize the tension in his muscles and the rawness of his expression, with a vivid orange background to evoke the heat and intensity of flames. The bold brushstrokes and textured surface add energy and movement, embodying the sense of igniting something deep within.

“Fire!! / LIBERATE” is a declaration of liberation and resistance, a visual statement that sets fire to the remnants of systematic oppression. Through this piece, I challenge the dominance of Western thought and dismantle colonial ideologies that have sought to suppress Black identity. Flahn paint's Black men as free because it’s the world he imagines for them—a world where they exist fully, unburdened by societal constraints, in all their strength and freedom. This work is both a celebration and a call to action, inviting viewers to envision a future where Black liberation is unapologetically asserted.