If you are on tumblr, twitter and instgram a lot, chances are you’ve seen the hashtag #arthoe. This term and hashtag has been circulating social media for around a year now and it has become increasingly more popular movement. It has even been supported and praised by young celebrities such as Willow Smith and Amandla Stenberg. Their instagrams also feature a few art hoe selfies! Search the hashtag on twitter, you’ll be able to scroll through colourful self images and protraits of young POC with artwork and doodles on each of the pictures. Some of the #arthoes even digitally insert themselves into famous art pieces such as Van Gough’s ‘Starry Night’. This all inclusive movement was started by young POC for young POC.
When interviewed, one of the creators explained the inspiration and goal for this movement.”It was created by @2jam4u and myself to present an exposure to POC so that they can feel self assured. Especially when we coincide in a society that eradicates the identity of POC and dehumanizes us for tedious notions. The movement was proposed for artists , LGBTQA, POC, and basically everyone who wanted to feel empowered.”
So what is it? The moevment created a safe space and platform for POC to express their internalized struggles through art. It gives them a voice into today’s dominant white society. Who knew selfies could stand for so much? The movement has grown from a few selfies to an artistic collaboration for young marginalized teens all over the world! It enables people of all genders and colour to be able to control their own identities through art. One of the co founders explains that Calibri;font-size:11.0pt”> “People of color and specifically black women have historically been excluded from the art world or are simply used as hyper-sexualized muses whether it be in music, paintings, or photographs”. The Art Hoe Movement finally allows young people of colour to be able to be represented in art, in the way that they truly believe is the most accurate representation of themselves and their identities.
“Honestly my goals start and end with representation and self love/acceptance,” co-founder Jam told The Huffington Post. “Seeing a disabled trans black woman superimposing herself over a white man’s painting saying ‘I am here, I have worth, and my existence and art matters!’ is so wildly radical and revolutionary.”
Follow or submit your art hoe images to @arthoecollective!