Dark side

The background of this artwork is covered in Marmite labels, with a few altered to read 'Darkside' and the logo replaced with the phrase "Love us or Hate us." Two figures are positioned slanted and facing each other, both rendered in a predominantly black gradient. The figure on the left has short hair and hoop earrings, while the figure on the right has long hair. Both are self-portraits, representing different aspects of the artist's psyche. Ilunga intentionally leaves it open to interpretation which figure represents love and which represents hate, preferring to see them as a unified whole.

This piece explores the complex relationship that black women have with their self-image and identity, as well as the lasting effects of colonialism on contemporary society. The figures serve as archetypes of the subconscious, representing the 'Darkside' or subliminal personality and the 'Marmite' or commercial, social, and aesthetic shell that people interact with. Ilunga's intention is to offer a more nuanced perspective on black femininity that takes into account the complexity of human experience.