Artist Andre Oshea Redesigns Chadwick Boseman Tribute NFT Following Oscars Controversy
“I now recognize that Chadwick’s face is a triggering reminder of his death rather than his life,” he said of the previous design.
Graphic NFT designer Andre Oshea has released an updated version of his Chadwick Boseman tribute token, after sparking backlash online for his original depiction of the late actor that was commissioned for unofficial Oscars gift bags.
The redesigned piece — titled “A Young Boy’s Dream” — renders a young Black child walking in awe through a fantasy realm, where influences from Boseman’s seminal Black Panther role are scattered throughout. Altars on either side of the imaginative universe pay tribute to monumental moments in the actors life, including his on-screen roles as James Brown, Thurgood Marshall, Jackie Robinson and Levee Green, as well as his wedding and graduation from Howard University.
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“My focus when creating this piece was centered around the environment,” Oshea said in a release. “Creating a world that’s filled with wonderment, legacy and soul. It was important to me that this piece felt more like a celebration and education of what one can do when they believe in their creative abilities. Chadwick has set an example for Black creatives of all generations, and we should carry his torch with us.”
Oshea took to Instagram late last month to announce the now-released redesign, apologizing for “any upset caused” by his previous iteration.
“I now recognize that Chadwick’s face is a triggering reminder of his death rather than his life, and I will be redesigning the artwork to be auctioned off later this week.” he wrote, adding that he was one of several artists contacted by Nomine(ETH), a separate entity from the Oscars, to create the NFT artwork.
In partnership with Black NFT Art, Oshea will auction off the newly designed Chadwick Boseman NFT to directly benefit The Colon Cancer Foundation, with a 50 percent pledge to support their tireless work in fighting the disease that ultimately led to Boseman’s death last year.
As the Black Panther sequel is set to resume production later this year, Lupita Nyong’o recently discussed how the cast and crew have been dealing with Boseman’s tragic passing in an interview with Yahoo. ”I can’t even begin to imagine what it will be like to step on set and not have him there,” she told the outlet. “His passing is still extremely raw for me.”
