Afrofuturist artist creates photos of mysterious “Humaliens”

The photo portraits may look like designs for the upcoming Star Wars movie, but they are actually the vision of the Ivorian artist and graphic designer. Eric Adé Tanauh .

Using the pseudonym Rickii Ly, Tanauh blends the characteristics of humans and aliens to create “Humaliens,” otherworldly characters who are defined by their exaggeratedly long necks and arms.

Tanauh, 28, is inspired by the art movement known as Afrofuturism, an aesthetic that blends different African and diaspora cultures with elements of science fiction.

While the movement has been around since the late 20th century, it has recently experienced a renaissance, in part as a result of the 2018 hit film “Black Panther”.“ .

Graduated in graphic design, Tanauh has been working as an art director for Blue Lions, an advertising agency in Abidjan, the largest city in Côte d’Ivoire, for four years.

Outside of work, though, he explores his artistic ambitions. “That’s what keeps me creative,” he said.

Tanauh’s work is created using photographs of models that he manipulates and edits using Photoshop.

Since he never formally studied photography, most of his education in the discipline came through simple YouTube tutorials.

About his pseudonym, Tanauh says that Rickii comes from a nickname he had at school, while Ly is a Senegalese name he likes.

“I think Rickii Ly is different from Eric. He’s my creative alter ego. With that, I get into the shoes of this character, I am much more inspired”.

Tanauh says that when he started making art reminiscent of Afrofuturist themes, he didn’t know the style had a name. It was only after coming across other Afrofuturist artists on the internet that he discovered the wider art movement.

“I saw some artists who were doing the same on Instagram and they added the hashtag afrofuturismo,” he explained.

“I clicked and discovered a community of artists. I was amazed and gained a surge of inspiration. Now I was sure that this is what I wanted to do.”

“A much more evolved version of our species”

The term Humaliens came from an Instagram poet that Tanauh greatly admires.

Writer Rune Lazuli used the term Humaliens (half human, half alien) to define the physical and spiritual duality of human beings.

Tanauh adapted Lazuli’s definition to fit his stylistic sensibilities; he describes his Humaliens as a more evolved version of humans, who live in a nearby galaxy.

“I have been documenting the everyday life of your time on Earth for several years through images,” he said.

Tanauh was also inspired by other artists such as British photographer Juno Calypso and American filmmaker Wes Anderson, adopting the director’s characteristic use of symmetry in his work.

“They each have their own worlds, artistic direction and individuality,” said Tanauh of the two.

“I try to get as much inspiration as possible from what they do.” Her work predominantly features women as models for her Humaliens.

“The African woman is a symbol of life, kindness, grace and beauty,” he said.

“I think women are more diverse than men. “With women, we can explore many possibilities with clothes, hair, makeup. It is my main artistic choice.”