MX
Sign In
0
0
  • Women
    • New In
      New In
      • New In Today
      • New In Bags
      • New In Clothing
      • New In Shoes
      Shop New In Today
    • Designers
      Designers
      • All Designers
      • Alaïa
      • Bottega Veneta
      • Chloé
      • Dolce & Gabbana
      • Gucci
      • Jacquemus
      • Khaite
      • Max Mara
      • Missoni
      • Miu Miu
      • Prada
      • Pucci
      • The Row
      • Valentino Garavani
      • Zimmermann
      Shop Bottega Veneta
    • Clothing
      Clothing
      • All Clothing
      • Beachwear
      • Coats
      • Denim
      • Dresses
      • Jackets
      • Knitwear
      • Lingerie
      • Nightwear
      • Shorts
      • Skirts
      • Tailoring
      • Tops
      • Trousers
      Shop Dresses
    • Shoes
      Shoes
      • All Shoes
      • Ballerina Flats
      • Boots
      • Espadrilles
      • Flip Flops & Slides
      • Loafers
      • Mules
      • Performance Footwear
      • Pumps
      • Sandals
      • Slippers
      • Sneakers
      Shop Sandals
    • Bags
      Bags
      • All Bags
      • Bucket Bags
      • Top Handle Bags
      • Clutches
      • Cross Body
      • Mini Bags
      • Shoulder Bags
      • Tote Bags
      Designers
      • Balenciaga
      • Bottega Veneta
      • Chloé
      • Gucci
      • Jacquemus
      • LOEWE
      • Valentino
      Shop Tote Bags
    • Accessories
      Accessories
      • All Accessories
      • Belts
      • Bridal
      • Glasses & Frames
      • Gloves
      • Hair Accessories
      • Hats
      • iPhone Cases
      • Scarves
      • Sunglasses
      • Travel
      • Wallets & Purses
      Shop Sunglasses
    • Jewellery
      Fashion Jewellery
      • All Fashion Jewellery
      • Fashion Bracelets
      • Fashion Earrings
      • Fashion Necklaces
      • Fashion Rings
      • Fashion Watches
      Fine Jewellery
      • All Fine Jewellery
      • Fine Bracelets
      • Fine Earrings
      • Fine Necklaces
      • Fine Rings
      • Fine Watches
      Shop Fine Earrings
    • Active
      Active
      • All Activewear
      • Accessories
      • Jackets
      • Leggings
      • Shoes
      • Sports Bras
      • Skiwear
      • Tops
      Shop Performance Tops
    • Stories
      Stories
      • All The Stories
      • Fashion
      • Culture
      • Lifestyle
      • Happenings
      What To Wear : The Modern Bride
  • Men
    • New In
      New In
      • New In Today
      • New In Clothing
      • New In Shoes
      • New In Accessories
      • New In Trainers
      Shop New In Today
    • Designers
      Designers
      • All Designers
      • AMIRI
      • Auralee
      • Bode
      • Bottega Veneta
      • Casablanca
      • Gucci
      • Jacquemus
      • Jil Sander
      • Moncler
      • Our Legacy
      • Prada
      • Stone Island
      • The Row
      • Tom Ford
      • Valentino
      Shop Bottega Veneta
    • Clothing
      Clothing
      • All Clothing
      • Coats
      • Hoodies
      • Jackets
      • Jeans & Denim
      • Knitwear
      • Polo Shirts
      • Shirts
      • Shorts
      • Sleepwear
      • Sweatshirts
      • Swimwear
      • Suits
      • T-Shirts & Vests
      • Trousers
      • Underwear
      Shop Jackets
    • Shoes
      Shoes
      • All Shoes
      • Sneakers
      • Boots
      • Derby
      • Flip Flops & Slides
      • Loafers
      • Sandals
      Shop Loafers
    • Bags
      Bags
      • All Bags
      • Backpacks
      • Belt Bags
      • Cross Body
      • Shoulder Bags
      • Suitcases & Travel
      • Tote Bags
      Shop Tote Bags
    • Accessories
      Accessories
      • All Accessories
      • Belts
      • Bucket Hats
      • Glasses & Frames
      • Gloves
      • Hats
      • iPhone Cases
      • Scarves
      • Sunglasses
      • Travel
      • Wallets & Card Holders
      • Wash Bags
      Shop Sunglasses
    • Jewellery
      Designer Jewellery
      • All Designer Jewellery
      • Bracelets
      • Earrings
      • Necklaces
      • Rings
      • Fashion Watches
      Fine Jewellery
      • All Fine Jewellery
      • Fine Bracelets
      • Fine Earrings
      • Fine Necklaces
      • Fine Rings
      • Fine Watches
      Shop Fine Bracelets
    • Active
      Active
      • All Activewear
      • Accessories
      • Jackets
      • Shorts
      • Shoes
      • Skiwear
      • Tops
      • Trousers
      Shop Performance Shorts
    • Stories
      Stories
      • All The Stories
      • Fashion
      • Culture
      • Lifestyle
      • Happenings
      What To Wear : On Vacation
  • Home
    • Designers
      Designers
      • All Designers
      • Dolce & Gabbana Home
      • Fornasetti
      • Hector Saxe
      • Jonathan Adler
      • Leblon Delienne
      • L’Objet
      • Missoni Home
      • POLSPOTTEN
      • Ralph Lauren Home
      • Reflections Copenhagen
      • Seletti
      • Soho Home
      • Tom Dixon
      • Versace
      Shop Dinosaur Designs
    • Bath
      Bath
      • All Bath
      • Towels
      Shop Towels
    • Candles
      Candles
      • All Candles
      • Candles
      • Candle Holders
      • Incense & Diffusers
      Shop Candles
    • Decorative Accessories
      Decorative Accessories
      • All Decorative Accessories
      • Collectibles
      • Decorative Objects
      • Plates & Dishes
      • Trays
      • Vases
      Shop Vases
    • Soft Furnishings
      Soft Furnishings
      • All Soft Furnishings
      • Bedding
      • Blankets & Throws
      • Cushions
      • Pillow Cases
      • Table Linens
      • Towels
      Shop Cushions
    • Tableware
      Tableware
      • All Tableware
      • Barware
      • Cups & Tea Sets
      • Cutlery
      • Glassware
      • Plates & Bowls
      Shop Glassware
  • Boutique
    • Our Boutique
      Our Boutique
      • Browns Brook Street
      Browns Brook Street
    • Our Services
      Our Services
      • Made To Order
      • Personal Shopping
      Personal Shopping
    • What's On
      Discover What's On
      • Dreamed By The HAUS Of Dreamers
      • Get Your Kicks
      • Pre-Loved Luxclusif Bags
      • AMIRI Exclusives for Browns
      Browns Brook Street
  • Sale
    • Women's Sale
      Shop By Category
      • All Sale
      • Accessories
      • Bags
      • Clothing
      • Dresses
      • Jackets
      • Jewellery
      • Shoes
      Shop By Brand
      • Dolce & Gabbana
      • Marine Serre
      • Mugler
      • On Running
      • The Attico
      • Taller Marmo
      • Tory Burch
      • Zimmerman
      Shop Women's Sale
    • Men's Sale
      Shop By Category
      • All Sale
      • Accessories
      • Bags
      • Clothing
      • Jackets
      • Jewellery
      • Shoes
      • T-Shirts
      Shop By Brand
      • Amiri
      • Brunello Cucinelli
      • Casablanca
      • Dolce & Gabbana
      • Lanvin
      • Our Legacy
      • Tom Ford
      • Versace
      Shop Men's Sale
    • Home Sale
      Shop By Category
      • All Sale
      • Candles
      • Decorative Accessories
      • Soft Furnishings
      • Tableware
      Shop Home Sale
Kudi’s Mamba Mentality

Kudi’s Mamba Mentality

Committed to placing Black British culture at the forefront of the art world, Aaron Kudi’s talent and authenticity have cemented his place as one of the British art scene’s most exciting new names. From working with Louis Vuitton for their 200th birthday, to his recent appearance on the illustrious Dazed 100 list, Kudi (his mononym alias) is the epitome of Black British excellence, pushing every possible boundary whilst refusing to be pigeonholed. 

This month, he unveils his latest masterpiece in collaboration with Browns East. Named Mamba Mentality (after the phrase coined by the late Kobe Bryant), it focuses on trusting the process of your mindset in pursuit of your highest potential in life. Featuring a marble CCTV camera sculpture and video monitors that survey the experience of the Black British working class, the installation exudes the true spirit of Black awareness and community.

To commemorate this groundbreaking new work, journalist and writer Shakeena Johnson sat down with Kudi to learn more.

Kudii’s Mamba Mentality

SJ: You describe Mamba Mentality as “showing the racial breadth and variety of working class communities, as well as the interpersonal relations and stereotypes associated with them.” Tell us more about what this means to you.
AK: It’s about showing the different racial dynamics within the working class community. There’s racial tension in the UK right, that is very obvious, but we've all got the same oppressor, and the same oppressor has caused conflict between us. I’m trying to show people that when I talk about working class communities, I'm talking about the collective; the set of people that are subjugated to a class. Those people need to have a great standard of living; those people deserve to have access to opportunities; they deserve to have the right funding and for their children to go to the right schools. 

The reason I called it Mamba Mentality is because, when you’re Black and working class, you're in a state of ‘mamba mentality’ every day of your life. We as Black people have been told since we were kids that we have to work twice as hard to make a status quo that was made by white males - that is the “Mamba Mentality”. Kobe coined the term for sports but it extends beyond that. It's a full working class experience and mentality.

If you wake up at 5am every day and go lay bricks to build these shit new gentrified buildings so you can send money back to your relatives? That’s mamba mentality. If you're a mother from Sudan and you’ve got four kids and you're still trying to do your degree whilst making sure your kids go to school and have the best education, that’s mamba mentality. It's not just a state of sporting excellence, it is actually a state of genuine survival.

Kudii’s Mamba Mentality

SJ: The Black British Experience is something that radiates throughout your work. How important is it to you to create art which appeals and exhibits such a diverse culture?
AK: It’s very important to me because my brand is Black Britishness. I’m not here to tell the experience of a Black German or a Black American, I’m here to show people what it's like being Black, British and working class. My end goal is to help people connect the dots of where our experiences meet. Whether or not we are similar, how do we connect? For me, it's been a history lesson because I've learned things that even I didn’t know.

SJ: Tell us more about the techniques and materials you use to make your work, and what led you to using these processes?

AK: I’m always questioning why we value marble more, when concrete is the foundation of society. Similar to why we adore the rich and protect them, when our own communities are what matter. The lines between class structures and their associated materials are what lead me to use them in my work. 

What I’m trying to show is the tug between the two; how society has built stereotypes and social understandings through material and industrial association. I don’t like the way society has labelled marble and put it on a pedestal for the “upper class” and “higher dynamic”, and that’s why I use the materials the way I do.

Kudii’s Mamba Mentality

SJ: Do you feel a sense of responsibility as a Black British artist to teach and raise awareness on social issues?
AK: Personally, I think it’s our duty when we make money to give back in some form, whether it's to build playgrounds for the youth or new areas for the community. In the UK, British culture is individualist at the core. We don’t move as a community - you can look at our voting pattern since the post-war 60s; you can look at any social dynamic theory that's been done in the UK. I feel like we have to strive as this generation to have these discussions. 

My prayer is that through this conversation, other people realise that they need to have the same conversation and slowly and surely, similarities will start to build. Oppression should not be the hammer that binds us. We shouldn't be in a community because of oppression, oppression shouldn’t have forced us to be a community. We should be one because we've got each other's back and that’s where the responsibility for paying it forward and teaching comes in. 

Kudi’s work will be on view at Browns East from 14th October 2021 - 11th November 2021.

Discover more about our Boutiques here.

Words by Shakeena Johnson
Images by Rashidi Noah

 

Related Reading:

Meet The Directors: Behind Film 4’s Foresight Anthology
Making Waves With Haroon Mirza
Jokes And Genius: Babak Ganjei At Browns East

See All Stories:

Women’s
Men’s

Share:
Good things come to those who subscribe.
We’ll treat your inbox to 10% off your first purchase, plus regular updates on your favourite designers, new drops, exclusive offers and much more.
By clicking 'Sign Me Up', you agree to our Terms & Conditions and Privacy & Cookies Policy. If you want to opt out later we won't be offended, just click 'Unsubscribe' at the bottom of our emails.