The concept behind UNOBSTRUCTED has been an ever evolving journey. It all began back in 2018 when the idea of creating my own clothing brand started to take shape, as it did for many young minds navigating the vast internet during those times.
'UNOBSTRUCT' was the name I envisioned, an unstoppable beacon of self-expression amidst all the noise.
Growing up on the island of Aruba, every step outside the normative felt like it could be scrutinized. It’s as much a projection of my own insecurities as it is a reflection of the social and cultural aspects of my island. The introduction of the 1969 Aruban zine FENETA by Francisco Sprott, Francisco Celaire, Buchi Janga, Ramon Todd Dandaré, and Juanita de Cuba reinforced this realization 56 years ago.
“We must fight against our number one public enemy: FEAR.
Fear, which causes so much talent to be lost and keeps generations stuck in place for years, especially when compared to other places.
This is the challenge we face.”
Fear, which causes so much talent to be lost and keeps generations stuck in place for years, especially when compared to other places.
This is the challenge we face.”
The FENETA zine aimed to provoke thought, challenge societal norms, and encourage critical discussion about the state of the Antilles. It rejected conformity, urging people to resist a passive, routine-driven lifestyle that did not contribute to progress. It emphasized the need for critical thinking, encouraging open discussions about flawed societal structures, and called for the empowerment of creative expression, advocating for the discovery and flourishing of local talent for the well-being of the community. Above all, FENETA warned against fear, labeling it as the “public enemy number one”, recognizing how it stifles potential and prevents progress, leaving generations stuck in place. The magazine positioned itself as a stimulus for progress, calling for unity and action to build a more dynamic and self-aware community in the Antilles.
While I haven’t dissected and analyzed each edition of this zine, its hard not to resonate with its core ideas. Based on a 1973 interview in VORM, a publication by the teachers' union in Aruba, Ramón Dandaré, one of FENETA’s members, spoke about the importance of “socialisering”, the need for deeper social and cultural engagement on the islands. FENETA is just one example of many zines and grassroots initiatives that have existed, and there are likely more that remain undocumented or underrecognized.
For instance, I vividly remember growing up reading Chabalito kids Magazine in primary school. I would collect each issue, unknowingly being introduced to my first zine experience. UNOBSTRUCTED builds on this tradition, reimagining it for the digital age, where the shape and form of these platforms are fluid, evolving with the needs of the new generation.
UNOBSTRUCTED started as a simple idea for a instagram zine during the quarantine of 2020, a time of reflection and creative exploration. What began as an outlet born out of boredom soon evolved as I started recognizing the immense creativity within my group of friends and our wider networks. This realization sparked a desire to create a platform we felt was missing, maybe something like it existed, but if it did, we didn’t know about it. We wanted to showcase people from the ABC islands doing dope things while simultaneously challenging ourselves to create for it, expanding our own creativity in the process. What started as a zine naturally grew into something bigger: an entity that represents both my own and my friends’ creative endeavors. Whether it’s shooting music videos, making music projects, photography, designing clothes, or facilitating other people’s ideas into reality, UNOBSTRUCTED became a playground for experimentation, allowing us to explore different mediums and art forms.
For the past few years, our journey has been one of discovery and adaptation. Relocating from Aruba to The Netherlands in 2021 marked a significant chapter in our lives. Adjusting to a new country brought forth fresh responsibilities and challenges, shaping our experiences and perspectives. Amidst these changes, I found myself diving deeper into my musical project, TEENAGEFEVERDREAMS, which became a significant focus of my attention. As we settled into our new life and pursued our passions, our priorities naturally evolved. While our direct involvement with UNOBSTRUCTED took a backseat, I seized the opportunity to immerse myself in the creative scene of The Netherlands, while always carrying the idea of UNOBSTRUCTED with me.
During this time, we’ve all individually evolved into new versions of ourselves. Whether it was being on sets for the first time, making music, creating clothing, directing projects, drawing, or DJing, we’ve also had our academic side, which helped expose us to new perspectives on society. These experiences have shaped the way we think about creativity and culture. With interests spanning decolonial thought, cultural anthropology, cultural musicology, history, sociology, and film studies, our vision for UNOBSTRUCTED has grown into something far more multifaceted. It is no longer just about showcasing artists, but also about heritage, preservation, archival work, and academic discourse—a space where art, history, and critical thinking intersect. We want to build a platform where these elements coexist, where creativity is not only a form of self-expression but also a means of reimagining the future.
To reimagine the future, we first have to understand the past and its history, acknowledging how it shapes and influences the present.
UNOBSTRUCTED is the creative energy of my friends, our art, and the vibrant subcultures we inhabit. It's a haven, a sanctuary, for both you and us.
We firmly believe in the profound impact of art on shaping culture. It's a transformative force, capable of sparking revolutions and fostering change. In the journey ahead, UNOBSTRUCTED will explore a multitude of mediums. From music to film, from clothing to physical experiences, we'll immerse ourselves in anything that resonates with our creative spirit. A curation of things we love, support, and live.
We firmly believe in the profound impact of art on shaping culture. It's a transformative force, capable of sparking revolutions and fostering change. In the journey ahead, UNOBSTRUCTED will explore a multitude of mediums. From music to film, from clothing to physical experiences, we'll immerse ourselves in anything that resonates with our creative spirit. A curation of things we love, support, and live.
SOFT LAUNCH
During this initial phase, certain features of the website will be made accessible as we're still figuring things out. This includes a mix of articles such as interviews, music reviews, informative, educational, and historical articles, as well as our old zine issues. Notably, it also features our ABCSSS database.
The ABCSSS Creatives Database is designed to compile a comprehensive list of musicians, filmmakers, writers, designers, photographers, and more. It’s about facilitating collaboration and visibility for creatives in and from the ABCSSS islands. There is so much untapped talent across these islands and their diasporas, and as creatives ourselves, we understand the power we have to shape culture and drive change.
This database is being developed with the help of Kevin Isaza Arias, a creative mind who has collaborated with me through different phases of my life. From being the first person to make me a beat back in 2019, to experimenting with screen printing for the first time, to now working together on our own productions, this is another extension of that creative journey, but also an example of what a simple platform like this could foster.
There are no strings attached! This is simply about giving visibility to those who want it. We’ve always been researchers, drawn to discovering new sounds, art, and perspectives. We know that feeling of falling into a rabbit hole of fresh creativity. This database is our way of making that process easier. What better way than by highlighting the talent of the islands we live on or grew up in?
- Angelo Werleman