We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Ziera “Scumboinani” Laenae. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Ziera below.
Hi Ziera , so excited to talk about all sorts of important topics with you today. The first one we want to jump into is about being the only one in the room – for some that’s being the only person of color or the only non-native English speaker or the only non-MBA, etc Can you talk to us about how you have managed to be successful even when you were the only one in the room that looked like you?
For high school, I went to Academy at Palumbo. I would say that was a blended school for the most part. I think going from a room of people that looked liked me or had similar experiences to then being one of 5 or fewer is a system shock. When I started college at University of the arts; I was already use to have to fight for attention in a class room but now I also had to defend myself and race. It just got tiring after a while. I went from making work that would fit enough of the criteria to fully putting myself into my work and not expelling what they never where going to truly understand
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
Hi, I am Ziera “Scumboinani” Laenae. A Creative and Photographer from Philadelphia. I love to capture my community and upbringing. Growing up in such a beautiful city with never ending art – I not only wanted to be apart of the growing number but also take the time to give light to stories that may be over looked. Right now I am working on a Setpa series and elevating my concert work.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
One of the biggest things I took note of when getting more serious about my career was the importance of making sure Black people look good in photos. “A picture is worth a thousand words and everyone chooses your art story…” is something I heard alot and it made me think back to all the times I would go to these high end places or note worthy museums and see the same old story portraying Black people. I want to change that. We are more then our pass and we are more then capable of telling our own stories. Even when it came to certain college courses – if we magical did go over a Black creative it was one of the “safety” ones and rarely someone new and different to the field. As a up and coming artist – especially one of a minority group I would say learn as much about other fellow artist (that you relate too) as much as you can independently. It is better to form your own opinion on art that tells you’r story then from an outsiders pov. Growth, Research and a Spark is all you really need to become the artist your heart is telling you to become.
Looking back over the past 12 months or so, what do you think has been your biggest area of improvement or growth?
So I just finished my first year of full time adulting post college in the last 12 months. While I knew the life wasn’t as glamorous as they talk about or show in the movies – it did push me to find my balance. I had to go from every semester for each class a project or body of work was due to “you know what I don’t have to plan out every small idea at this very moment”. After summer ended – it took a moment for me to actually sit in that fact. I can actually think things out more and not push so many pots to already overflowing back burner. I started to become more confident in my work. College did teach me a lot and showed me what its like to be a “up and coming artist” – now I have the time and space to learn what it’s like to be a artist and work for myself. Not to toot my own horn; but I think I’m doing pretty well.
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