After visiting the Armory Show recently, I thought I had reached my creative threshold. Thousands of art pieces from hundreds of artists filled the vast space at the Jacob Javits Convention Center. But just when I felt I’d taken in all I could, an unexpected email arrived in my inbox from someone I didn’t know—Ari Melenciano. She was reaching out on behalf of Afrotectopia, introducing me to Black Metal, an experimental art book that piqued my curiosity.
A little research revealed that Ari had created an incubator in collaboration with Afrotectopia, MIT Media Lab’s Space Exploration Initiative, and NYU’s Interactive Telecommunications Program. Together with three other Afrotectopian artists, they’d spent three years crafting Black Metal, a fusion of speculative fiction, Black culture, spirituality, and extraterrestrial life. I was intrigued but didn’t know much about Ari or this paradigm-shifting project. The ideas seemed expansive and thought-provoking, so I hopped on a call with her to learn more. That conversation changed everything.
What Black Metal Offers: Expanding Thought and Personal Growth
The key value of Black Metal lies in its ability to push readers beyond their comfort zones, inviting them to explore both internal and external worlds in ways they may never have considered. In my conversation with Ari, she broke down the vision behind this project and how it can benefit anyone willing to engage with it.
“Black Metal isn’t just a work of art,” Ari told me, “it’s a training manual for self-realization.” The book draws readers into a speculative future where space exploration isn’t merely about traveling to distant planets but about uncovering new dimensions of the human spirit. The creators of Black Metal—Jordan Caldwell, Jeremy Kamal, Kordae Jatafa Henry, and Ari herself—designed their chapters with one mission in mind: to offer a framework for unlocking untapped human potential.
The Pedagogy of Black Metal: A Guide to Self and Cosmic Realignment
At the core of Black Metal is the concept of self-realization. Each chapter invites readers on a journey of inner and outer discovery, using art, science fiction, and speculative thought as the vehicles. But this is not just an artistic endeavor—it’s a call to rethink how we see ourselves in relation to the universe.
Black Metal impact-fully starts off with Ari’s Celestial Florilegia. Ari introduces the concept of “floramancy,” a speculative practice in which plants serve as cosmic guides. The plants, each uniquely imagined, act as symbols for expanding our understanding of human senses and interactions with the natural world. Ari’s work highlights a crucial principle of the book: that our modern understanding of the human experience is limited, and Black Metal provides tools to break through those limitations.
“Floramancy,” as Ari describes it, isn’t just an abstract idea—it’s a practical guide for reconnecting with ancestral knowledge. The reader is encouraged to explore a richer, more profound experience of the self by tapping into intuition and engaging with the metaphysical aspects of nature. For those seeking spiritual growth or a deeper sense of connection to the cosmos, this chapter offers a process of self-discovery that is as grounded as it is imaginative.
Practical Insights for Self-Transformation
If you’ve ever felt the constraints of the every day, Black Metal offers an escape—but not in the form of passive consumption. It actively asks you to engage, reflect, and transform. This transformation is laid out most clearly in Jordan Caldwell’s section, Training Grounds, which acts as an interactive workbook. It guides readers through a process of shedding old layers of self, integrating new knowledge, and realigning with their highest potential. Jordan’s approach is efficient, drawing on familiar systems like horoscopes and chakra alignment to create a framework anyone can use.
This chapter’s value lies in its simplicity and universality. The concept of shedding—letting go of what no longer serves you—is accessible to everyone. Whether dealing with personal setbacks, struggling to find purpose, or simply feeling stagnant, Training Grounds gives you a practical roadmap for evolving into a more grounded and aligned version of yourself.
Reimagining Blackness Through Space and Time
Black Metal challenges conventional narratives around Blackness by placing it at the center of futuristic thought. Too often, the future is portrayed as a space where Black bodies and experiences are excluded or marginalized. But this book turns that idea on its head, presenting Blackness as central to the exploration of both earthly and cosmic realms.
Jeremy Kamal’s Companion 180, Volume 1 brings this idea to life through the design of a speculative spacesuit that serves as both a literal and metaphorical tool. In Jeremy’s vision, the suit is a vehicle for spiritual and physical transformation—a way to harmonize body, mind, and soul with the vastness of the cosmos. Jeremy’s suit reimagines material science as a communication apparatus, translating the internal world of spirit, emotions, and well-being nonverbally to others. By integrating Black Metal technology into the material, the suit redefines how we communicate, allowing internal experiences to be shared and understood without words.
Kordae Jatafa Henry’s Dark Voyage adds another layer of meaning by presenting space travel as a personal experience. His work isn’t just about leaving Earth for other planets; it’s about plunging into the “inner world” of the self. Through cinematic storytelling and stunning visuals, Dark Voyage asks readers to reconsider what it means to go on a journey—whether it is across galaxies or deep within themselves.
A Call to Imagination and Innovation
The ultimate value of Black Metal is its call to expand the boundaries of the possible. Ari emphasized that this book empowers Black people to see themselves as creators of their own futures, both on Earth and beyond. The speculative nature of the work challenges us to rethink what we value, how we see ourselves, and how we can shape the world around us.
Black Metal offers a framework for reimagining the future on one’s own terms. It pushes readers to ask bold questions: What if we could redefine our relationship with technology? How might we use our ancestral knowledge to guide us into the unknown? How can Black culture not only participate in but lead conversations about the future of space and spirituality?
The Future of Black Metal
As Black Metal prepares for its Fall 2024 launch, the team is gearing up for a series of community activations, including performative lectures, design hackathons, and a book tour. A limited edition of 500 copies will be available for purchase, marking the project as a true collector’s item. More than just a book, Black Metal is a cultural heirloom—a testament to the power of Black creativity and imagination.
For me, Black Metal is more than just a piece of art; it’s a call to expand our minds and consider the possibilities that exist beyond the world we know. It’s a reminder that Black culture is not just rooted in the past but is also an integral part of the future—one that we can shape through our collective imagination.
For anyone interested in the intersection of art, technology, and Black futurism, or for those simply seeking to expand their understanding of what’s possible, Black Metal offers a journey unlike any other. It’s a cosmic alchemy of ideas, transforming the base metals of our current reality into the gold of unlimited Black potential.
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Visit https://www.afrotectopia.org or Follow @afrotectopia on Instagram
