MOKO is a world entirely conceptualized and designed by Ashton Richards. Ashton takes influences from traditional African and Caribbean cultures and combines them with futurism. Dive into this new environment via Ashton's writings, visual art, and collages.
Medium: Foamcore, illustration board, cardstock, acrylic print, foliage
Date of Completion: April 2024
Moko's crystal is harvested to power the high technology and robotic inhabitants—my archive functions as a power plant and vault for the minerals.
Medium: Polymer clay, acrylic paint, resin, air dry clay
Date of completion: May 2024
The tall one steps up from blue waters onto the surface of the caves. He uses his drill arm extension to harvest the power source and stores them in his baskets. His retractable stilts allow him to navigate and reach the high ceilings of the cave.
Updated: Jun 30
A new generation of robots began in the early days of Moko’s creation, just decades after that fateful day. Of them, there was a young robot named Ade. Ade was finally ready to change out of the outfit he was manufactured in. He was of the generation that the tall one created by himself, so Ade knew it had to be a spectacular outfit. The next parade was in 3 days, where he would see the tall one, so he set out to find his outfit.
On the first day, Ade looked to his friend Ayo for help. Ayo was a different model, broader and taller. Ayo wore a thick angular fabric tunic, so Ade borrowed one from him.
Ayo
Ade wore the tunic for just a few hours before the fabric got stuck in his joint gears and jammed it, causing him to trip and fall. The next day, Ade tried to make his own outfit. since borrowing one went so poorly. Ade loved flamboyant trees, so he tugged on some fresh flowers and adorned his collar. The vibrant red complemented his sleek white exterior perfectly. Hours later, the once fiery red flowers wilted and browned, much to Ade’s disappointment.
With the parade right around the corner, Ade nearly gave up. Then Ade found some fallen flowers and dried straw. Ade crushed up the flowers Moko had offered him and made natural green, orange, and red dyes. He used the straw to weave a cone-shaped hat. He used a loose, thin, smooth fabric that didn't jam his joints. Ade proudly wore his new outfit for hours before the parade to ensure it would last. Later at the parade, he proudly greeted the tall one in his new outfit. Ade was happy with his outfit; he knew it was his, and that it used the materials Moko offered him without harming his favorite tree.
Ade
