Christophe Roberts, "MANZA PROTOTYPE 2" (2021). Upcycled from waste shoe boxes, 20 x 14 x 10 in.

Christophe Roberts, "MANZA PROTOTYPE 2" (2021). Upcycled from waste shoe boxes, 20 x 14 x 10 in.

When creating the Manza: DIY, Christophe went through countless prototypes before landing on the final product. Christophe wanted a way to teach artists about the process behind his sculptures made from waste. Drawing from the same methods that have brought the artist global recognition, Afrogami is a culmination of influences that have shaped Christophe’s work—his Bahamian roots and the island’s legacy of craftsmanship, African masks, and folklore, the Japanese art of origami, a fascination with sneaker culture and his Chicago upbringing. The result is a sustainable sculpting technique that takes shape through folds and self-locking pins, requiring no glue or chemical adhesives. The Manza: Prototype is a limited edition using shoe boxes to test out the process before he was able to create his own product and finally release the Manza: DIY. - Christophe Roberts ‘22