YUSUF LATEEF
Ongoing
ARTIST STATEMENT
Augment - To make ( Something ) greater by adding to it, increase / To change / to implement.
Reality and Dreams
Dreams and Myths
Myths and Meaning
Meaning and Livelihood
Livelihood and Purpose
Purpose and Existence
Existence and Truth
Truth and Love
Love and Friendship
Friendship and Humanity
Humanity and Community
(Repeat)
It started with a friendship. I often dream of my friends. I had a dream that my friend was moving into a new studio and wanted me to paint a mural on the wall. The walls were white. My brother and I get into a van and travel to see him and the space. We embrace and sit by a fire.
A few weeks later I got an email from my friend. He introduces me to someone who is running a gallery space with studios. He says they want to install a mural on the outside. The walls are white. Me and my brother hop into an SUV and travel to see him and the space. We embrace and sit by a fire.
Birds = Peace
Banners = Affirmation
Hands = Action / Purpose
Faces = Community
Towers = Communication
Thunderbolts = Will Power
Cubes = Society
Mural = "Heaven Knows"
As a visual artist, I often find meaning not in the work itself but in the experiences surrounding it. In September, my collaborator and friend Terry Burton and I embarked on an artists' journey that connected us with beautiful people. We sang, danced, and laughed like children amongst the backdrop of a global pandemic. We found heaven within the echoes of political upheaval. Time stood still as we battled against weather and fatigue. Our hearts gave way to the possibility of community. Murals are journeys. The destination moves with those who left something there. Murals will not last. The experiences of the people who witness and give to the making of art exist within the augmented life and undefended space.
- Yusuf Dubois Abdul Lateef
ABOUT THIS PROJECT
Artist Yusuf Lateef created a series of murals on the outside of the Visible Records warehouse building (located at 1740 Broadway Street, Charlottesville, VA 22902). The vibrant murals, consisting of bright shapes and colors, were created with a further intention of utilizing augmented reality (AR) technology to enhance community experiences. In collaboration with community partners, activists, and artists, Visible Records plans to animate elements within the mural and superimpose an evolving exhibition of 3-D modeling, video, animation, and other creative content. This mural and its additional AR technology capabilities will serve as an evolving outdoor exhibition space to be shared with multimedia artists.
Visitors to Visible Records can interact with the mural through their phones. By pointing their smartphone cameras at imagery on the murals, visitors receive personally interactive information or content that evolves as they move along the space. The AR capabilities of this mural are currently in progress — stay tuned!
The facilitation of these murals is a partnership between The Bridge Progressive Arts Initiative, the Charlottesville Mural Project, and Visible Records.
LOCAL PRESS
CBS 19: Artist paints new mural with augmented reality experience
Augusta Free Press: Charlottesville Mural Project announces new augmented reality mural by Toledo muralist Yusuf Lateef
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Yusuf Lateef is a visual artist and arts educator based in Toledo, OH. Lateef works collaboratively to create positive and vibrant murals for neighborhoods in the Midwest and abroad. He earned his BFA in the field of painting and drawing from the Columbus College of Art and Design. Since then, he has completed over 16 murals including projects for Toledo Public Schools, The Toledo Fair Housing Authority, and Bowling Green State University.
Lateef is a co-founder of Radiant City, an arts education provider specializing in music, poetry, and visual arts workshops with a focus on developing leadership skills and self-empowerment.
You can see more of Yusuf’s work featured on his website or his Instagram (@yusufalateef).
