​How do artists shape the way we see the world? How has the Black aesthetic influenced how beauty, culture, and identity are expressed through art? How can art offer another lens, creating space for reflection, imagination, and hope?

​Join us for a conversation bringing together philosophy and photography to explore how artists interpret the world around them. Drawing from traditions of Black aesthetics while also moving beyond fixed definitions, the discussion reflects on how culture, identity, and lived experience shape artistic work.

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​Meet our guest speakers

• ​Paul C. Taylor
  Paul is a philosopher, author, and scholar whose work explores race, aesthetics, culture, and politics. He is the author of “Black Is Beautiful: A Philosophy of Black Aesthetics” and currently serves as the Presidential Professor of Philosophy at the University of California, Los Angeles. His work examines how art, identity, and cultural expression shape how we understand the world.
  

• ​Coco Olakunle
  Coco is a Nigerian-Dutch photographer based in Amsterdam. Her work documents youth subcultures around the world, moving between documentary and fashion photography. Through her lens, she captures style, creativity, and identity in communities often outside traditional art institutions.
  

• ​You
  Everyone is invited to share how you are seeing, practicing, and engaging with the world.

​Together, we will explore how artistic practice, cultural identity, and aesthetic traditions shape the way we see the world and how art can open new perspectives for imagining what comes next.

​This is an intimate conversation with limited spots available.
Welcome drink and small bites will be provided.

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Looking forward to seeing you there,
Paul, Coco, Ayra, Rabi, Kemo & Kes

​About the this collaboration

• ​Showroom is a creative space in Amsterdam that hosts exhibitions, conversations, and gatherings that bring together art, culture, and community.

• ​Kip Republic is a creative platform that creates space for artists, thinkers, and cultural practitioners to share ideas and engage in dialogue through exhibitions, conversations, and collaborative programming.

• ​Omek is a global community connecting bicultural professionals of African descent through career opportunities, conversations, and cultural exchange.