Art in the slow lane

By Page Leggett

The muse doesn’t automatically appear before photographer/videographer DaRemen J. He has to look — patiently — for inspiration. DaRemen J. doesn’t want his artistic practice to be rushed.

Occasionally, the Charlotte native will have an idea and immediately move on it, he says, but most of the time, it does take a lot of planning. And that takes time.

To explain just how slowly he likes to take things, he employs a metaphor familiar to most of us. “Before I even have a subject,” he says, “it’s like I have to sit in the DMV line and wait to be called. I have to wait for the idea to really strike a chord before I can all-the-way commit. I have to take my time.” DaRemen’s art is much more appealing than your typical visit to the DMV, though.

The mostly self-taught filmmaker/photographer/visual artist (he began in 2013 by shooting pictures on his phone) grew up in Charlotte, graduated from Butler High School and then went on to the Art Institute of Charlotte where he found he was good at photography. But he dropped out because he “wasn’t learning much.” Besides, he was working two jobs at the time and had little time for studies. He found experience to be a better teacher. And it has worked out well.

His work has been exhibited widely in Charlotte, including at the Mint. He was among artists featured in Local/Street curated by artist Carla Aaron-Lopez. At a Wednesday Night Live event, he was on hand to shoot guests’ portraits. His work has also been shown at the Gantt Center, The Light Factory, and Camp North End for the Durag Fest and Hunnid Dolla Art Fair.

Up next with the Mint, his portraits and short films will be showcased as part of the Constellation CLT exhibition at Mint Museum Uptown opening March 14, 2025.

Every picture tells a story

DaRemen is both a fine art photographer and a commercial photographer, which can be a tough line to straddle. He describes his style as “Afro-surrealism.” Clients seek him out for commercial work because, he says, his “nostalgic, dream-like and cinematic” aesthetic appeals to them. He also insists that his work — whether a still or moving image — tells a story.

“I’m always studying paintings, illustrations and comic books,” he says. “And I study them because I’m always looking for narratives. I want to see how other artists capture or tell a story in a single photo.”

Even his portraits — almost all of African Americans —aren’t just run-of-the-mill headshots. The viewer learns something about the subject, based on the setting in which they are photographed, what they are wearing, their facial expressions and the way they are posing. Some of his portraits look like high-fashion shoots; others are slice-of-life shots taken on city streets, under a fire escape, in front of a convenience store.

Even though DaRemen looks for a narrative when framing a shot or filming a scene, he doesn’t want viewers to have to work too hard to see the meaning he found in the work. Just stopping, even for a moment, to look is enough for him.

“I’m grateful to anyone who stops to look at my work. We all have such short attention spans today; everything is moving so fast. So, for anyone to stop, take a breath and look — I’m appreciative.”

Coming into his own

The imagery is so distinctive, you wouldn’t guess that DaRemen ever doubted his talent or style. But when he was first starting out, he’d compare himself to other photographers and filmmakers. The search for his own approach and aesthetic is what he considers his biggest creative challenge.   

“I used to feel I had to fit into a certain niche. It’s been important to my practice that I just come into my own. Especially with the internet, there’s a lot of pressure to be as good as someone whose work you admire on social media. So, honing my skill and my style is probably my biggest hurdle.”

Another challenge he is familiar with: “Making money at it is very hard.” DaRemen has done it in his hometown — a place where he’s “almost overwhelmed by how many talented people are here.” He appreciates how The Mint Museum elevates local artists by shining a spotlight on them. 

“The Mint has opened the door for all types of art,” he says. “They’re bringing a lot of attention to local artists. I never thought my work would be showcased in a museum — and it’s a big deal to be encouraged in that way.

Learn more about DaRemen J. — and see his work — on his Instagram page @1stkind. 

Page Leggett is a Charlotte-based freelance writer. Her stories have appeared in The Charlotte Observer, The Biscuit, Charlotte magazine and many other regional publications.