BY SOFIA LUCIANO SANTIAGO PHOTOS BY TAYLOR JAUREGUI
Wankke Basiley expresses rawness and authenticity in his photography work, fashion, and expression of the self.
Wankke is a multidisciplinary artist that is ever-changing. He refers to himself as a curator rather than a photographer as he uses various mediums in his work.
When asked how he would define the feeling of his work he described it as
Basiley is a 25-year-old artist from the Cross The Canal in the Lower 9th Ward in New Orleans, known as “Cut Throat City” his entire life.
He is currently based in Buschwick, New York, where has been residing for the last two years to pursue his inner vision.
Inspired by the complexities of the external world and the intricacy of his own inner being, Wankke seeks to document the realness he feels and sees around him.
“Composition is very important to me. You want your photo to tell a story. Give off an expression that is necessary to other people’s eyes. Other people have a same sense of things, and the same feeling of things, but we are in different human forms. Everybody got a sense of emotions,” he said.
“That’s what I am aiming more for real and authentic. Capturing and expressing realness. Express what you’ve been through and your struggle,” said Wankke.
Growing up in New Orleans, Wankke used to walk around Canal Street people watching as they documented their experience in the city. Seeing people with their cameras inspired him to do the same, and it served as a creative catalyst to realize the inner visions that he held within.
When he turned 13 years old, his aunt gifted him a Nikon camera and his creative vision soared. Photography became a main source of expression for Wankke and he began shooting music events and behind the scenes for local New Orleans artists as he continued to explore photographic expression.
Between the ages of fourteen and fifteen, Wankkee got his first Canon T3i camera.
“I went crazy with that camera, that was the first camera I ever had in my life,” said Wankke.
“New Orleans influenced me to be myself behind the camera. Having an imagination and visuals, and being mad young and being out there in the streets and meeting people.
Wankke says he is inspired by people who don’t have a lot and are able to get what they need by any means possible.
“I want to express realness, culture, and the realness of people. As a photographer, I want to start capturing older people, younger people that have been through some shit. People who look outstanding,” said Wankke.
Wankke has photographed New Orleans artist Jesus Cyph, rapper 2BAGG SHAWTY, artist Mellow Benji, SandBox Entertainment, and musician Londonbaby, among others unlisted that compose a part of his extensive creative portfolio.
“I like to understand the people I am capturing,” he said.
Artists like Mellow Benji and Londonbaby are close friends of Wankkee and a main source of inspiration that drive him forward.
“That’s my brother,” he said when referring to both of them lovingly.
“We are in the same frequency and the same mindset. When we get the ideas sparking and go for it, we’re gonna make a hit. They want some real visuals and I also trust their vision too,” said Wankke.
Wankke said his main source of discipline and inspiration are his family and friends.
“My dad is in prison. That drives me. But my soul drives me too. My thoughts and stuff and the situations I’ve been in. My family drives me, like my niece Kamari she’s 7 months old,” said Basiley.
“The outside world, a lot of people be outside.” My artist friends, my local New Orleans artist’s friends. My boy Ricky, my brother Londonbaby96, George, Bluedollars. And my uncle Jason,” he said.
Wankke does not define his aesthetic, as he believes it is an innate expression of what he is feeling, and seeing around him in everyday life.
“It changes. I love being around new people and new cultures,” he said.
Self-expression through fashion is an important part of who Wankkee is and how he wishes to portray himself. Wankke said he started getting deep into fashion when he turned 18 years old and was hanging around Tremé and the Bywater and was inspired by what the homeless people in that area were wearing.
“I am always changing myself, I always have a new style. I never will stay the same.”I operate around the world. No one can confine it,” said Wankke.
When talking about his creative process, Wankke says his ideas are instinctual.
“I just do it,” said Wankke.
“I been having dreams and writing them on papers too. I just come up with things right then and there. I can come up with something right now. I always visualize how things look, and then I go based off that, and then I say this is the style for it or whatever the case may be,” said Wankke.
He says he is heavily inspired by movies like Set It Off with Queen Latifah, Jada Pinkett Smith, and Vivica A. Fox; and would love to become a director in the future.
“I pull inspiration from the conversations I have, but I also pull it from myself too, cause you have to motivate yourself sometimes also. But I feel like to motivate yourself you have to dive deep and detox some shit.”
Wankke says he likes to listen to Kid Cudi and get in his own world when he is creating or generating a concept for a new project.
“I base myself off the music I listen to. Sometimes I listen to heavy metal and Im on my rockstar shit. Sometimes I listen to no music at all,” said Wankke.
A defining moment in Wankke’s life and career was his visit to Cote D’Ivore, Africa. Basiley traveled to Yamoussoukro and Abidjan on his first trip overseas and captured life on the Ivory Coast.
“I manifested that trip. I just wanted to be in tune with the culture, I went out there with raggedy clothes I wasn’t trying to be outstanding I was trying to be in standing, like be in with the people.
I stood out though, with my blonde hair and painted nails, but they embraced me,” said Wankke.
Wankke said visiting Africa was a life-changing experience. He wants to continue seeking how to expand his view of realness in the world and how to capture more clearly it through his own understanding and connect to a universal feeling.
“I think I’m in that process right now. I don’t think Im really expressing what I need to be expressing. I say when I went to Africa that changed.
Im really here,” said Wankke.
Wankke is currently working on music and 3D animation for his upcoming projects.
This is the beginning for the promising New Orleans artist, whose career and self-expression are driving him forward and into a divine direction, catapulted by the love and support he receives from his family, friends, and the community he has built around him.
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