Echoes of Absence: Diaspora, Archives and the City is inspired by Kerry James Marshall’s exhibition The History. The video is made from a third-person perspective. I am interested in how certain histories — especially those of Black and diasporic communities — have been overlooked or silenced in visual culture.

The journey begins in the subway. The contemporary subway overlaps with images of the past, representing the start of the journey and the entry into an archival world. Then, a modern corridor overlaps with the red carpet lines from Black church spaces, connecting present-day movement with historical collective rituals. Next, traces of everyday life in the present overlap with moments from the daily lives of Black communities in the past. After that, a modern classroom is layered with images of historical Black classrooms, reflecting education, knowledge, and memory across time.

Later, I turn on a lamp, which triggers a rapid sequence of archival images showing different moments of Black life. Finally, the journey ends on a bus, symbolising leaving the archival world and returning to the present.

Throughout the video, I combine different urban sounds with human breathing and heartbeat. These sounds express my emotional transition—from initial tension and uncertainty when entering this world, to a deeper understanding and empathy toward Black communities.