Kevin Osepa, b. 1994 Willemstad, Curaçao. Currently based in Utrecht, the Netherlands is a Photographer born and raised on the island of Curaçao. His work revolves around his identity and the identity of Afro-Caribbean youth in a post-colonial world. His youth has a lot of influence on the visuals that he creates and the stories that he tells. Whilst the themes that he explores are autobiographical, it can also serve as an quasi-anthropological study. Using different experimental techniques he creates (colorful) visual stories that explore themes such as Religion, African diaspora, and Family.
Mester Blousé
Two mothers are speaking about the prosperous looking baby of one: “You have to rub the baby with bluing compound; “Mester blousé”. With real indigo bluing compound.
– Brenneker, P (1975). Part 7 Sambumbu Willemstad, Curacao
‘Mester blousé’ examines the photographer Kevin Osepa and how his identity was formed by the superstitious beliefs and culture of his island. His emigration from Curaçao to the Netherlands at a young age has changed him not only as a person but also as a visual artist; the shift in his view of the world was tremendous.
Within this project, he uses the symbolism of the culture of his island that he grew up with to tell the history of him and his family. As a man of color who grew up in a religious and ‘brua practicing’ environment. Whilst exploring intense themes such as colonialism, the afrocaribiën, diaspora and religion, ‘Mester blousé tells a story where reality and magic can coexist without prejudice interference.
* Brua is a collective word for Sorcery, superstition, charlatanism, spirit leather, scaremongering and deceiving with secrecy. Which is mainly practiced on Aruba, Curaçao, and Bonaire.
To view more of Kevin Osepa’s work please visit his website.