Page 176 - Demo

176 || FASHION MAGAZINE || MAY / JUNE 2015%u201cRap is Martial Art Show%u201d- a narrative on how the pen is more powerful than the sword.%u201d Both are international martial arts Grand Champions who have appeared in famous martial arts magazines like Inside Kung Fu and New Martial Hero Magazine. As a duo, they are actors, martial arts inspired clothing designers, fine artists, and fight choreographers that have performed martial arts internationally in places like Brazil, China, Thailand, Myanmmar, Dominican Republic, Rwanda, South Africa, and in the US at numerous universities, museums, and theaters. They are now preparing for a school tour along with a police officer to foster awareness about the subject of stereotypes and how to interact with the police. Hero Art plans to release a photoshoot and video that will display images that cause viewers to think and be uncomfortable about what the children are claiming others say they will become based on how they look. The aim is to demonstrate the gravity and negative impact of stereotypes with the goal to create maximum impact in the viewers%u2019 mind and conscience. One child may also be cast to go on news channels with the company to discuss the campaign and the positive impact that fighting against stereotypes can have.MF: How did Hero Art get the idea for touring at schools and how did you make it happen?PP: The idea of touring schools kind of came from everywhere. As my brother James and I were ideating ways to impact our culture, many of our advisors, including my father and one of our mentors, said that hitting schools would be a great way to impact the demographic we have a heart for. My brother and I have toured nationally and overseas performing martial arts for schools, orphanages, restaurants, fashion shows, tournaments, and the like, so this was a natural fit. We are in the process now of talking to local schools.MF: When can we look forward to seeing the photoshoot and video that are a precursor to the campaign?PP: We are shooting for early- mid May right before schools get out.MF: What is the next step for Hero Art after the school campaign? How many schools do you plan to visit and how long do you plan to be touring?PP: Hero Art is training and choreographing for a martial arts film that we were cast in; it shoots this summer.We%u2019ll go talk about the topic of stereotypes as long as the schools will have us. One of my passions is approaching issues with emotional and intellectual honesty. I want to help the next generation to impact change in an unbiased productive manner.MF: You are also clothing designers-Do you desire to ultimately design a whole line? Who came up with the stereotypes t-shirts found on your website?PP: Yes. Hero Art (Philippe Prosper and James Whitley martial arts duo) is working on a potential clothing line for a big sports brand conglomerate that we cannot mention yet. It%u2019s a martial arts inspired brand. I also have aspirations to do a high fashion line called PhilippeProsper at some point. Sounds like an alright clothing line name right?!I came up with the artistic concepts of the stereotype t-shirt, fashion designer Kristen Konisciewicz sketched some initial ideas, and James Whitley did the final illustrations that you see today. James is a spectacular fine artist. His art is going to be featured in some pretty dope galleries in the next month.MF: What is one thing you want MOST Fashion readers to know about Philippe Prosper?PP: That I love Christ and I personally believe that every human, no matter who they are, is a divine