this artist’s film highlights impact of travel and music on understanding his identity

As Afro-descendants, our identities are often complex. The traditions of our ancestors serve as the foundation while the impactful element’s of today’s culture serve as filler. To understand the interdependence between the two requires some level of patience and bravery. Visual artist and musician, Sergio Aparicio takes viewers on a journey in his new film “GALSEN. El lenguaje de las almas“. The piece of art captures everyday moments within the lives of Senegalese youth, visuals of Spanish landscapes and sounds of New Yorkers in motion. By featuring the work of budding artists within these communities, Aparicio speaks to the need for creation in order to document our history and contribute to a promising future.

The film opens with the Barcelona born musician standing in the sea. A sepia tone dresses the water and sky as the sun shines in a bright but warm fashion. Here he declares that every Afro-descendent comes to a point in their life where they have to ask the difficult questions of who have they become and how does that relate to who were meant to be. Moving through city neighborhoods, rural districts and storytelling architecture, Aparicio also hints at the necessity of navigating multiple spaces efficiently. However, just as that has become the norm or the expectation, we’re reminded by his footage of dirt road taxi traffic and the constant hum of East Coast pedestrians that taking each moment as it comes is just as important.

Aparicio’s artistry comes to life throughout the film particularly when pairing footage with contrasting sound or featuring Hip Hop freestyles with lightning fast lyrics. There’s a raw but amiable vibe that moves throughout the piece guiding your eyes and ears through moments of silence and stimulation. When breaking down the meaning of his film’s title, Aparicio defines GALSEN as “the way in which Senegalese young people designate their country in slang”. In turn, his title exemplifies the natural creativity of Afro-descendants and the multiple meanings of terms and phrases.

The London resident ends his film, sitting among children in their classroom. Together the group sings, “Je suis Afrique” and then “soy Africano” alternating between the two declarations.  It’s one of many powerful moments in the film where visual and situational simplicity take on the biggest message: that union among Afro-descendants is the goal and overall key to our success. And telling our stories through music and artistry is the therapeutic experience that leads to a better connected Diaspora.

(TRAILER) – GALSEN. El lenguaje de las almas. from Sergio Aparicio on Vimeo.

GALSEN.El lenguaje de las almas. from Sergio Aparicio on Vimeo.