Grow On, Flow On (diptych)
Acrylic and aerosol on wood panel
At the center of this work is the Sankofa bird. A word from the Akan people of Ghana meaning “go back and get it,” Sankofa asserts the importance of looking backward to understand the hazards from which the present moment comes.
In the omnipresent aftermath of a history of violence, trauma has been normalized in Black communities, giving rise to conflicting notions of how to move forward. Artist and organizer Rob “ProBlak” Gibbs embodies this concept in his diptych “Grow on, Flow On.” Inspired by Hip Hop culture and the pioneering work of Boston-based graffiti writers Zone & Click, this multilayered work shows how art enables us to confront contrasting narratives of the past.
“Grow on, Flow On” is fundamentally optimistic. Where history is shrouded in colonialism and slavery, the child has the benefit of reflection. By reading, studying and understanding the struggles that have shaped us, we gain the freedom and clarity to imagine better futures. These futures are embodied in our children. Knowledge of history can prepare us to grow beyond violence and into fresh hope for new generations. Knowledge can cancel violence.
“I learned early on how art can articulate the raw realities of life, exposing truths that are both personal and universal. To see the glass as half full, we must embrace the philosophy of Sankofa and go back to reclaim our past.”—Rob “ProBlak” Gibbs