What is solar punk? Let the Afrofuturist art of AJA Louden show you the light

As a kid, artist AJA Louden loved science fiction. He was inspired by how authors wove imagined futures and current reality together. As he dove deeper into sci-fi, he found himself drawn to a particular movement within it: Afrofuturism

"There's lots of different ways of describing Afrofuturism," Louden says. "For me, the starting points are Black — speculative fiction artists and writers thinking about the ways in which Black people have been excluded from conversations about the past, and how we might be included in conversations about the future."

Afrofuturism is the inspiration for his latest exhibit, Prairie Star Deck. The solo-exhibit showcases large-scale, tufted tapestries that tell a story of a time-traveling mother and daughter duo who explore the prairies together as spacewomen. 

Louden says a "natural point of connection" between textile arts and Afrofuturism "comes through the legacy of craft in Black communities — for example, the work of the Gee's Bend quilters, or of Faith Ringgold." Louden's personal connection to craft has roots in his own family's history.

In his childhood home Louden's mother had a crafting studio in the basement. She would craft clothing, blankets, or items for the family to use around the house. He began to appreciate how these items were both practical, but could also be used to tell a story.

"This is really when I first had this connection with craft as a creative mode," Louden says.

Although Louden has previously presented his murals to the public eye, Prairie Star Deck showcases his tapestries for the first time. 

"This represents a change of direction for me as an artist."

In 2022, Edmonton-based fibre artist Jessica Fern Facette invited Louden to attend Fern's School of Textile Craft, as part of the school's inaugural artist in residence program.

Louden says that Fern's school teaches people about the role of craft in society, with a focus on the tools and techniques behind various textile crafts. During the program, Louden fell in love with tufting. His new knowledge and experience with the craft was incorporated into Prairie Star Deck.

"The vision I received around this body of work — it came to me as this fictional, historical event, maybe from an alternate timeline," Louden describes. In thinking about the various ways that information can be recorded, he came up with the story of a mother and daughter. 

Although Louden was partly inspired by Afrofuturism as a movement, the piece also draws on another unexpected inspiration: the Tarot deck.

"There's lots of allegory and meaning loaded into each card. But you're invited to find your own connection to that reading," Louden says. "I think the same with art — everyone is going to find their own point of connection with a piece of work and their own meaning within a piece of work."

For Louden, this sentiment carries over to the series of tapestries in Prairie Star Deck, which feature allegories and symbols that are up for interpretation. However, some symbols point to solar punk, a subgenre in science fiction. Louden says solar punk is a futurist movement that encourages thinking "critically and creatively about the relationship between nature and technology."

"Right now in the west … we're looking to use technology to extract value from nature," he says. "So just thinking about how the future could look more inclusive and less exploitative."

Although the exhibit thematically connects to Afrofuturism and solar punk, Louden invites people to interpret these themes on their own and find meaning within his work.

The C2 Centre for Craft, an exhibition presented by the Manitoba Craft Council in Winnipeg, will showcase Louden's work in 2025. 

"I feel like there's so much creativity and brilliant energy here on the prairies. I'd love for us to celebrate each other and put a spotlight on the amazing work that's coming out of the prairies."

Prairie Star Deck runs until July 13 at the Alberta Craft Discovery Gallery (10186 106 St.) in Edmonton.