True Friendship is ageless, however, there is no doubt that youth breeds
a special type of bond.

“YOUTH: Friends and Growth” is a visual project which explores the
journey of life with friends, the memorable experiences we create, and
how these experiences shape us and ultimately help us grow.

The question on our mind has been “how can we make an image that
truly and empathetically reflects the essence and emotional nuances of
young friendship?” We sought to find an answer to this question by
creating a visual narrative of a cohabiting friend group interacting in
several scenarios in and around the flat they share. Our search
culminated as a set of tender, affectionate images set in a dreamscape
atop the chaos that is Lagos.

All subjects were adorned in expressive Maxivive pieces, specifically
because this designer frequently uses his collections as tools for free,
unorthodox expression, touching on freedom, nostalgia, homosexuality,
to name a few. Young black men are often pressured to be tough, and
measured by yardsticks of toxic masculinity which are harmful to
emotional growth in the long run. Our goal for this project is to represent
young love among black boys and show black boys around the world
that their love is valid, and it is beautiful.