Lilo is a Colombian visual artist, events curator, and DJ based in London: @lilophilia
Through their work they advocate for marginalised communities, and promote Black transcendence, joy, and resistance. Here, Lilo writes about their vision for the piece.
This piece celebrates Afro-diasporic heritage, Afro-Latin identity, and the vibrant intersections of dance, music, and queerness. Inspired by Carnival’s electric energy, Caribbean colours, and the fluidity of movement, it captures the joy, resistance, and communal spirit of these traditions.
Dance is a space of liberation, storytelling, and defiance. The figures move to Afro-Latin rhythms like salsa, bullerengue, and champeta, embodying the collective joy and resistance of diasporic communities. The central couple’s tender embrace highlights queer intimacy in spaces often shaped by heteronormativity, while the surrounding dancers reflect the diverse expressions of gender, identity, and movement.
Carnival & Caribbean Aesthetics
The checkerboard floor mirrors dance halls and street celebrations, where Black and queer communities reclaim joy and visibility.
The golden silhouettes radiating from the dancers suggest ancestral presence, music’s pulse, and the blurring of past and present.
Queerness as Celebration & Resistance
The androgynous silhouettes, fluid body language, and intimate gazes reject rigid binaries, embracing a future where Blackness and queerness exist unapologetically.
Afro-futurism Meets Tradition
The fusion of Caribbean aesthetics, Afro-Caribbean textile patterns, and neon-like accents envisions a world where Afro-Latin traditions evolve while honouring their roots.