2016 is set to be a great year for Akintola Hanif. Coming off a great 2015 that culminated with the 8th issue release of HYCIDE magazine at Art Basel in Miami last December, Akintola sat down with The Newark Times to talk about some upcoming events and future work that he’s excited about.
Issue 8 of HYCIDE sticks firmly to the script of what Akintola envisioned for the magazine. A number of stories are shared that either wouldn’t have been unearthed by other publications, or wouldn’t have received nearly as much light as HYCIDE so unapologetically shines.
One such story is that of the alleged leader of the Grape Street Crips, C-Blaze who was recently arrested and charged with crimes from murder conspiracy to controlling a drug ring and extortion.
HYCIDE has been partnering for the past 3 years during Art Basel with MOCADA, the Museum of Contemporary African Diasporan Art, for FADE TO BLACK (an annual art party) just as they did last December. HYCIDE sold out of every printed copy of Issue 8 at the party in Miami. Thankfully, Akintola decided to re-launch the issue at the Newark Museum with a few tweaks. The launch event for Issue 8 – now known as The Survival Issue – will work in conjunction with the current exhibit, Wondrous Worlds, at the Newark Museum and cater to the Islamic community at large, with Halal food, Henna tattooing and head wrap instruction; oil and incense give aways – all free of charge.
“When I came back from Art Basel, so many people were asking what Issue 8 was about, and what the theme was. At first I would reply that it was about HYCIDE’s editorial mission: subculture, art and conflict. But I as started to look through the issue again I realized that there was a recurring theme of survival. Some stories focused on what people did to survive their circumstances, and others spoke to things people did to get by…”
HYCIDE magazine will also be working with Newark Celebration 350 to document the stories and experiences of everyday Newark residents.
We spoke about the different communities in Newark and how they are connected and in some ways disconnected. “There are institutions that have been working with the general community in and around Newark and those institutions are benefiting from that community engagement. There is a genuine desire from some to get people to come and engage. Then we have academia that benefits from working with and engaging the community while gathering data and statistics. And of course, there are the independent creatives, young professionals and entrepreneurs that are moving and shaking around the city and encouraging even more to get up and do the same thing,” says Hanif. “But then, there is the community that exists outside the institutions and academia and are not the young entrepreneurs or creatives, but the growth and activity that’s going on is built on the backs of these people yet all of this never reaches them.”
That dynamic is one of the things that makes Akintola’s work so unique. As an independent artist who is dedicated to giving voice to the voiceless, he is one of the few who have successfully and consistently bridged the gap between community and institutions for everyone’s benefit.
“Our partnership with HYCIDE allows us to expand and cultivate our commitment towards Newark’s increasingly vital and independent art scene,” said Newark Museum’s CEO and Director Steven Kern. “We hope that artists, artisans and makers – as well as the general public – will gain a more nuanced understanding of and appreciation for Islamic art through our exhibition Wondrous Worlds. “
photos courtesy of HYCIDE
