Monuments Are Here is a short film (about 3 minutes long) written by Solange Knowles and directed by Nuotama Bodomo.

It’s a poetic meditation on Black domesticity, the emotional life of everyday objects, and the act of collecting as a spiritual practice. 

​

The film centers on Grady “Shady the Great” Thomas—a Grammy-winning artist and member of the legendary Parliament-Funkadelic collective—using his personal archive of objects as the narrative anchor. 

Over decades, Thomas has gathered a wide range of objects—from flea markets, tour stops, and gifts from his children. These items are shown not as mere possessions, but as living pieces of memory and imagination that reflect his identity, history, and relationships. The short uses these objects to pose quiet but profound questions:

• What do our objects say about us in silence?

• Who are we through their reflection?

• What stories do they hold when we are no longer present?

The film explores the sacred bond between collector and collection—suggesting that the objects we hold dear extend beyond their physical presence to embody reverence, futurism, and timeless reflection. 

​

​

Creative Direction / Written by Solange Knowles

Directed by Nuotama Bodomo

Photography By Elinor Kry

Wardrobe Manager Ruth Thao