A sea of blue and a sunset sky

Africa is known for its bold, unapologetic use of colour. Stories are told in pigments, tones and hues; a kaleidoscope as diverse as the cultures and peoples of the continent. For the initiative Colours of Africa, a collaborative project with Google Arts & Culture, we asked 60 African creatives to capture the unique spirit of their country in a colour which represents home to them.

The projects they have created are personal and distinct stories of Africa, put into images, videos, texts and illustrations. Each artist has also attempted to articulate what being African means to their identity and view of the world. Colour: Deep Cerulean
Country: Seychelles

Artwork Rationale:

My daughter Lea died in the back of an ambulance, on a road in Germany, in the autumn of 2017.
Blue were the lights of the ambulance in which I lost my daughter.
The mind, the soul, can be like a deep sea. So full; unfathomable and unexplored.
Some people associate the colour blue with depression. Returning to my home, to the Seychelles, was one step on my way of dealing with my own depression.
A journey across a sea of blue...
This colour hunt was a short but difficult journey. It sent me into deeply emotional memories. Islands – like the Seychelles – are defined by the sea. The many blue shades of the sea.
When I returned home to the Seychelles, I hoped that nature, and the closeness of my family would alleviate my pain. I hoped it would lift me out of my sad, blue state of mind.
Hope is what I see in the sunsets, especially the most vivid ones that cover the sky with fleeting hues of red and orange.
Tropical islands might seem paradise to many, but the reality of living here provides a different perspective from that of the tourist. Many of our most challenging issues are related to the Indian Ocean: fishing and overfishing; marine security; tourism and climate-change; and an isolation from the rest of the world.
We travelled across the blue sea as slaves, colonists and workers. From all continents, towards an uncertain future. What now seems like a paradise was once a prison for some...
For Colours of Africa, I want to give some insight into these aspects of my country, using texts and photographs. At the same time I wanted to make something interactive, something that Lea would enjoy, so I have made an interactive series of mini-games.
I hope that these will make our visitors think a bit deeper about the joys and sorrows of island life.

What it means to be African:

The people of Seychelles themselves do not only hail from Africa, but are an amalgamate of African, European and Asian peoples.
We live in a world that enjoys and suffers the pros and cons of globalization, a world where migration and living abroad are commonplace. Still, it is important to rediscover and honor one’s roots. I enjoy discovering our connections to the African continent.

Biography

Seychellois-German entrepreneur Daniel Hugelmann was born in the Seychelles in November 1981. He grew up in the island nation before leaving for Germany to study in 2000. He returned to the Seychelles in 2019 and has been working in his family’s perfume and décor business.
Hugelmann’s chief creative outlets are photography, design and invention, designing computer games and board games and working on a project to curb illegal marine activities. The protection of the natural environment is a preoccupation of his.