In 2020, amidst a global pandemic and the fervor of the Black Lives Matter protests, Adrienne Elise Tarver, an interdisciplinary artist known for exploring Black female identity, embarked on a creative journey that would eventually manifest as the Manifesting Paradise Tarot Deck. Tarver’s deck is more than just a set of cards; it’s a vivid, multi-layered exploration of Blackness, femininity, and nature, steeped in symbolism and personal reflection.
Can you share the inspiration behind the Manifesting Paradise Tarot Deck? What personal experiences or themes influenced its creation?
I started making the deck in 2020 a few months into the pandemic and amongst Black Lives Matter protests. I was doing Zoom readings at every full and new moon with a friend of mine and we both started making small works on paper in our apartments that were inspired by the tarot, then we would share the images with each other. My images always incorporated elements and images that I was already interested in from my other artwork. I’m an artist whose work addresses the complexity and invisibility of the black female identity, so I wanted the deck to center a Black female protagonist.
Your artwork often explores Black female identity and the concept of paradise. How do these themes come together in this tarot deck?
The idea of paradise is a central theme in my work because of how it’s connected to our origin stories (think Eden) and these ideas of where we originated from shape our identity. Especially for Black people in America, our origin stories are usually fuzzy at best. The tropical imagery becomes a stand-in for the ideas, mythologies, and aspirations we have for paradise. In the deck, there are often hints of this idealized tropical landscape.
The Manifesting Paradise Tarot Deck combines different art mediums. Could you tell us about your creative process and how you decided on the visual style for the cards?
The visual style came about very organically. I was somewhat limited in materials when I began because it was the pandemic and I was working from a small desk in my apartment. I had colored pencils, oil pastels, and ink available to me. I’ve always loved color and with those materials, I was able to maintain vibrancy and layer different textures. A lot of other elements and symbols grew as I made more cards. I began to develop a vocabulary of symbolism.
You’ve described this deck as a journey through Blackness, femininity, and nature. How did you decide which elements to include to reflect these themes?
Blackness is reflected in the figures, sometimes presented more simply and stylized in deep jet black. As a reflection of the spectrum of femininity, all of the figures, even the traditionally masculine archetypes are also all female or ambiguous in their gender presentation. I focused the deck around the 4 elements: earth, air, water, and fire. These elements informed the colors, the imagery, and were the foundation for how the protagonist in this deck moved through the world I was creating in the tarot. There is a sense that the world she’s in is not exactly our world–she’s almost always nude, the environments are stylized, but it’s reminiscent enough of our world that we can relate and see ourselves in these moments. That is what I like most about the tarot. It’s open enough to see ourselves reflected in it.
How did you approach the traditional symbolism of tarot in your designs? Were there any cards that were particularly challenging or meaningful to reinterpret?
I wanted to have a healthy influence from the traditional cards, specifically Pamela Coleman Smith’s illustrations. While I knew my deck would retain the meanings and hold onto some of the symbolism, I didn’t want them to mimic traditional decks or any other deck. There were some difficult cards to reinterpret–I had a hard time figuring out the Tower and the Devil. I think because I didn’t want to inhabit that energy for too long. I redid them a few times and now they are a couple of my favorite cards in the deck. I also liked the opportunity to reinterpret a few cards that I have not connected with as much from the traditional deck–mostly from the minor arcana.
The Kickstarter campaign for the Manifesting Paradise Tarot Deck has been gaining traction. What has the response been like from the community, and how does it feel to see your work resonating with others?
It’s hard to have a real sense of how it’s resonating with others at this stage. I’m excited to be at this part of the process though. I’ve been working towards being able to complete and share the deck, so it’s very nice to see that other people are eager to have this deck as well.
What were some of the most rewarding moments in creating this deck, and did you face any unexpected challenges along the way?
There were challenges in the size of the project. Making 78 images is a lot of work. It was most rewarding when I finished the Major Arcana and was able to see those works together. I felt confident in being able to complete the whole deck and excited to be able to have and use it myself.
You’ve mentioned the importance of representation in tarot. How do you hope the Manifesting Paradise Tarot Deck will impact the tarot community and its readers?
I felt compelled to make the deck I wanted to see in the world. I have sought out decks that allow me to see myself in them, whether that’s a diverse cast of figures or decks that use other symbols like animals or plants. I hope that others resonate with that and see themselves or a world they want to see represented in this deck.
As an interdisciplinary artist, how do you see your work evolving beyond this deck? Are there any other projects or themes you’re excited to explore in the future?
Yes, Manifesting Paradise to me is more than the deck. It has already expanded into other types of work like tapestries, video, and murals. I want to continue that expansion. It’s exciting that the deck can finally live in the world now and accompany these other iterations of the project.
What advice would you give to other artists and creators who are looking to bring their own unique perspectives to tarot?
I think it’s important to make the things you want to see in the world. Everyone has unique perspectives and it’s important to trust your vision.
This is probably gonna be one of the toughest questions for you – which is your favorite card in this deck, and why?
I think the answer changes periodically, so I’ll say that right now my favorite card is the High Priestess. She was the first card I finished and I’ve been referring back to her a lot recently.
For those interested in following Tarver’s journey or supporting the project, the Manifesting Paradise Tarot Kickstarter campaign is now live, and updates can be found on Instagram or her website.
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