“I can’t wait to see what comes next for Thomas. I hope he finds a way to keep his fellow Spiders in front of his lens,” said Jason Vida, associate athletics director for strategic communications. “For the past four years, Thomas’ tremendous work behind the camera has helped make incredible moments and memories for both his classmates and Spider fans everywhere.”

Over the past two years, Takele’s interest has increasingly shifted to video, not only for sporting events, but also to express his thoughts on subjects important to him as an artist. 

Growing up, his parents always cautioned him about what he could and could not do. His film, "Seen," raises awareness of the feeling of having one’s every move watched and judged.

“This piece explores Blackness, gaze, light, and how these things come together to change the mentality of a person who is being overly watched,” Takele said. He presented the film in April at the VMAP Senior Thesis Exhibition, part of the A&S Student Symposium.

In "Seen," filmed on campus, he recreates everyday situations that lead to harmful outcomes when misinterpreted. He does not show the faces of the speakers; instead, they communicate through the shadows cast on the pavement.

“The shadow belongs to the person, and it is a part of the person, but is not thought of most of the time,” he said. “It is similar to the thought that a person can exist and not be aware of the way that someone else sees them.”

To simulate the feeling for viewers, he set up a special display room for his film in Keller Hall. In the room, two bright lights point at an empty chair. On the chair are a hoodie and headphones, items associated with the film’s subjects. "Seen" plays on loop on a TV monitor.

“The TV is positioned at a higher angle meant to mimic surveillance systems,” Takele said. “I would describe the room as an experience that is meant to replicate the feeling of being seen and feeling uneasy because things are not the way that they should be.”

Ready for the next step

VMAP professor Jeremy Drummond remembered the day, after one of their Documentary Art Media classes, when Takele told him it was the first time he ever felt there was a place for him in this field.  

“From this point forward, I witnessed Thomas’ confidence, creativity, and criticality explode,” Drummond said. “His video installation is a very powerful, expertly executed work that explores historical and contemporary issues.”

Takele hopes to work for a professional sports or college athletics team as either a content creator or social media manager now that he has graduated.

“I hope to bring community as an artist,” Takele said. “I hope that my work brings people together, whether as a sports photographer or videographer, or an artist who creates works that focus on issues.”