BEAUTY IS EVERYTHING
An Interview with Christian McKoy aka 3rdeyechakra
3rdeyechakra, started by Christian McKoy, found its first internet fame on Tumblr; a self taught artist editing found photographs from social media using a mix of digital editing programs and apps to create a stunning world of utopian black beauty. Bringing Afro-Futurism to the digital space, 3rdeyechakra merges witchcraft, mythology, cyborgs and more combed with her subjects in celebration of black and black queer culture.
"Firstly tell us a bit about the person behind 3rdeyechakra."
Well I’ve been interested in art my whole life, as far back as I can remember and although I’ve matured as a person and artist I still have that imagination I had as a kid. I loved everything that was fantasy and sci-fi so its a big part of my subject matter which I think fulfils my need to challenge myself and also is cathartic in a way.
"Your work always make the subject feel and look powerful; what does 3rdeyechakra wish to communicate?"
I want to communicate inclusiveness. Black and brown lgbtqia+ people don’t get to see themselves in a lot of art and I want to carve out space for us to fit in because there is a lot of us and we need that representation.
"Your work creatively surpasses a lot of today's fashion photography. What do you hope to see for the future of fashion image?"
I really hope to see more dark skinned femmes represented in fashion and more size inclusiveness. Talent is absolutely everywhere so to only mine it in one specific space, I think defeats the purpose.
"Couldn't agree more. Your work is a celebration of diversity and the beauty media refuses to acknowledge. Where do your references come from?"
A lot of them are from fantasy movies I grew up watching as a kid like The Fifth Element and The Mists of Avalon. But I also take inspiration from the strong women in my life like my mother and sister.
"I would love to hear more about your retouching process, what programs do you use?"
I use Cinema4d, Photoshop, PoserPro, and Paint Tool Sai.
"What is beauty?"
It’s everything. There’s nothing you can’t find it in and we all see it very differently.
"Thank you."
Find more on the experimental digital artist on their Instagram.