In this episode I am joined by multidisciplinary artist Marv (he/him). Marv is a Black photographer, painter, music producer, writer and fashion stylist who does portraiture/self portraiture and photojournalism. A lot of his work is about community, mental health and exploring self identity. Marv grew up in Surrey and Vancouver, BC and is currently based in Montreal, QC⁠.⁠ Marv is also the founder of Unity Art Collective and the clothing brand Dope class. Unity art collective is a space and platform made by and for BIPOC people/BIPOC queer and trans people within “canada”.

I met Marv in the film industry in 2015 and it was so lovely to chat with him and see how he's grown into such a wise, beautiful human. We discussed many things including:

- His artwork and where it stems from

- Black identity and what it's like to not fit into the brand of what society expects of you

- the BLM movement and how to actually make changes in your life

- How being black is not a "trend" in the fashion industry

- How being alone in Europe helped Marv grow as a person

- Why "making it to the top" doesn't mean you won't feel sad

- What does it mean to be "grown"?

- Taking accountability, cancel culture and "why do we wait for people's downfall?"

... and more!

Marv's Instagram Pages:

@akasublime and @unityartscollective

Marv's website and linktree: https://www.marvhoungbo.com/ &

https://linktr.ee/akasublime

Thanks for listening!

Hosted by Jade Pattenden @jadepattenden

Podcast Twitter  Facebook

Email: [email protected]

I acknowledge that this podcast is recorded on the land of the Coast Salish peoples which includes the territories of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), Stó:lō and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) Nations.