IC Interview: Okwae Miller — Idea Capital Atlanta

In a new series of interviews, Idea Capital begins with Okwae Miller. An artist who is working in politics and identity in a public space. We are lucky to have him as an Atlanta artist and Okwae was the winner of the Margaret Kargbo as Activist Grant. Let’s dive in!

Where were you born?

I was born in Atlanta, GA.

What are you favorite materials to work with?

As a choreographer, I love working with the human body in diverse forms to understand how movement translates mechanically from body to body to create an experience.

What is your motivating factor in creating artistic work?

My motivating factor in creating my artistic work is delving into personal history and social anthropology as a way of challenging identity politics and social discrepancies that have been accepted as the norm.

What do you like most about the art that you make?

The thing I love most about the art I create is that it is used to dismantle stigma and sparks dialogue that creates an intersectional understanding across communities.

Who are your influences?

I have many influences, but if I were to name a few: Marcel Du Champ, Katherine Dunham, Ulysses Dove, Merce Cunningham, Martha Graham, Bill T. Jones and men/woman of color in the LGBT-community.

The first art you saw that informed your practice and let you know this was possibility to become an artist?

The Mourners Bench by Talley Beatty. Although, this was not first time seeing a black man dance, it was certainly the first time I identified as a man of color creating work based on the African American experience. Moreover, it was my first experience with history that built framework for blacks in the most American contribution of dance, Modern Dance.

What do you feel you are trying to communicate with your work?

I feel as if I am trying to communicate what it is to be a LGBT-person of color navigating the cross-current pressures of white supremacy and toxic masculinity. My life is not “normal,” surrounded by the privilege of “just being.” My life, as many others, is faced with a battlefield that I must survive and conquer just to be heard or even accomplish.

As an artist, do you think your work is political?

Absolutely! To be black is to be political. To be gay is to be political. To identity as anything other than that of the privileges afforded by the bigotry of white America is political. My work challenges the social discrepancies that have been accepted as the normative way of thinking outlined by white supremacy culture. So, my work is political.

What is the connection between protest and art-making?

In my opinion, the connection between protest and art-making is the creative process. Within the creative process there is intention and where you set your intentions informs how you make your work and how you would like your work to be received.

What was the seminal experience that got you to the work you are making now?

My experience at the American Dance Festival in 2010. Before I attended this festival, I had just a mere interest in movement from an array of dance classes. However, it was this series of six-weeks of truly experiencing dance in it’s fullness that changed what I wanted to do forever. Being able to experience dance as not only an art form, but as a culture of which I could develop professionally realigned who I wanted to be and that was, an Artist.

What are you working on currently?

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the original April 2020 premiere of my latest work, ‘a shy, [RED] moon,’ was canceled. However, my artistic mission has developed during this time and I am working with dancing artists and other collaborators to create a dance docu-film with the same artistic vision of dismantling stigma around the HIV/AIDS epidemic surrounding black gay men. More information about the digital release of this film during this socially distanced time is under way.

What would be a meaningful way for Idea Capital to support your practice in these current events?

I would just like for Idea Capital to continue to support all of its artists throughout this time, as we are rethinking and realigning our work. Specifically, I would like Idea Capital to continue with sharing our update information to continue that reach of our audiences.