With artificial intelligence, age is just a number – The Mail & Guardian

Taking the ageist out of fashion: Nigerian Malik Afegbua uses artificial intelligence to create the ‘Elderly Series’, which features older people as runway models. Photo: Slickcity Media

‘I want to put parents in a place where you don’t normally see them’

Malik Afegbua grew up wanting to follow in the footsteps of his pilot father. But one interest led to another and he found himself a filmmaker and director.

Through his creative studio, Slickcity Media, Afegbua has worked on engaging and relatable visual productions that tell stories through creative license. Prior to Slickcity Media, he founded a business creating and selling a line of high-quality T-shirts.

A few decades later, Afegbua used his wild imagination to create projects that he could do through his production company. His work is a way to celebrate the African continent while drawing attention to current discourse.

On this premise, one of the most famous and widely accepted projects, the Elder Series, was born. On LinkedIn alone, the post now has 140,000 likes. Twitter and Instagram are no different, as these channels do the work to develop stunning imagery that sparks discourse.

What is the passage, you may ask? Yes, where runway shows are not only built using artificial intelligence (AI) but also have parents as models.

You see, many would argue that fashion is ageist and most of the people walking the runway are young Gen Z and Millennials who appeal to a certain demographic. To appeal to the older generation, and give them something to celebrate and look forward to, Afegbua used AI to create the Elder Series, a fashion show for the elderly and, until now, platforms such as Essence, CNN and BBC have taken to it. .

Malik talks about the show, what he hopes to achieve, what drove him to create it and what he needs to do.

First of all – what is growing for you? How did you get into this scene?

My father was a pilot before he retired and, for many years, I wanted to be a pilot too, but then went to college to study business in London.

After school and a clothes line, I returned to Nigeria with the intention of becoming a pilot but did not pull through… I then went to the compulsory National Youth Service Corps and was given my first camera.

A few years later, I started exploring AI, virtual reality and more. It wasn’t as accessible or easy as it is today. I’m just trying.

But when it comes to the current level, you can get better results, I’m ahead because I’ve been doing it for a while. I then channeled that knowledge into what I mostly do, which is storytelling. Actually I started.

Speaking of Elder Series – what caused it?

I wanted to put my parents in a place where you don’t normally see them, and that affected my relationship with my mother.

We are very close. He was sick and it wasn’t a situation he was used to.

But I use art as therapy. This is how I deal with anxiety and stress. So, I turned around, and started to create a series related to her generation, and I didn’t want to do it from a place of fear or sadness. I want to come from a place of home, elegance and comfort, you know?

I actually started making them in the series – just showing them in happy places. When I started making them, I started exploring more in the field, and learning more about society and marginalized communities. That’s where the fashion show comes from.

And it has been fun. It really changes people’s mindset.

Why did you want to use fashion for this story? This is not your niche, as you prefer to make films.

I have been a fashion lover from the get-go. It shouldn’t be at the forefront of this but it’s part of the story. What I do with my work is intentional and all important.

The story I am telling is that marginalized people should not be marginalized. They are still part of society – they are elegant, powerful and should be celebrated.

I wanted to use fashion because it has always been a statement. You use it to create a mood, buzz or set the tone for something. I’ve never seen it before either, so I wanted to use fashion to create a conversation about it.

Can you imagine this positive reception?

I never did, to be honest. My art is mostly for myself and not the public eye. So, it was horrible.

But, to tell you the truth, I kind of know why people resonated with. It’s new and fresh. The way it is taken is like a dream; it still feels like a dream, because the people I’m talking to now are people I haven’t imagined in a long time, even with the deal I’ve signed.

Another good thing about it is that people are even starting to find some of his previous work. You know, all this has even pushed me to be more intentional in the kind of work I put out there.

Do you want to take home the Elderly Series?

There is a repressed mentality that Africans have about themselves and their heritage. I want us [and others] to realize that we are elegant, regal, confident and stylish, regardless of what anyone thinks.

We are who we are and must be unforgiving. I get so many messages from people all over the world – from people of that generation, to people with grandchildren – telling me how much they take it and inspire me. They are part of us and should be recognized.

What was the best and most challenging part for you?

Containing these ideas has always been the best part for me. I spend a lot of time in my head, brainstorming ideas that I think will work, and it is great to execute. I just thought that I found a good enough opportunity to get better results.

Instagram and TikTok have brought new audiences to the market and explored the needs of Gen Z audiences. Is that something you want to do as well?

I don’t just focus on the stories of parents. My stories usually come in stages.

Some of the companies I’ve built are all interconnected and work together. It really depends on what I’m working on at a given time and, right now, it’s art. I do other things, and of course always go out.

There should be a possibility to explore the younger generation.

For those who want to explore this space, what skills do they need to be successful?

What I am saying is to have imagination and passion and patience. When you can imagine a world that does not exist, and try to bring it in the physical, it is very powerful and something that can potentially lead to change in various ways.

So how can we envision a solution? How can we imagine a way to approach things using technology? Thankfully, most of these things already exist and work. All you have to do is think.

What is your future?

I wear many hats, but they all connect. I have a few projects out on Netflix that I co-produced and directed, Made By Design Season 2, Web 3. I also have another project called Mama Nike, for the Nike Art Gallery. We are making a biopic documentary about him. It will definitely be something epic to look out for.

On a personal level, I have a virtual reality project that I am working on, to imagine and reproduce African societies that have lost their history due to war and natural disasters. So, think about the lost culture, traditions, language, etc. This is an educational learning experience.

I wrote some movies with my husband and some colleagues. I just created some new artwork that will be in an exhibition soon.

There’s always something to do, whether it’s a physical production company, or a virtual reality company.

Any advice for younger creators?

Spend a lot of time at your job. You have to spend more time, compared to others. You need your bread and butter, and that’s what you dream about.

It should be what you research, and provide solutions for any gaps. Don’t do it under pressure but because you like it and love it.