As promised, here is my interview with visual artist Ojo Agi. We talked about Ojo Agi’s
artistic journey, creativity, inspiration behind ‘Daughters of Diaspora’ project , plus more.
When was your starting point as an artist?
I've been drawing for as long as I can remember, but I can't exactly pinpoint the moment I became an "artist". I sometimes still have trouble identifying with the term, but I'm more steadily gaining confidence in my body of work. I think the starting point would have been a few years ago, when I decided I had a message I wanted to communicate with my pieces: I wanted to represent women of colour in non-stereotypical ways.
How did you find your own artistic lane and how have you grown and evolved?
I'm constantly refining my work to more accurately reflect who I am. As a child, I exclusively drew girls of European backgrounds. Then at some point in my teens, I started colouring them in brown without changing their features, which made them appear racially ambiguous. Now as an adult, I'm more focused on depicting African features and darker skinned women. It's a journey of acceptance, as much as it about developing my skills.
What do you try to communicate through your art?
I'm trying to centralize the beauty and experiences of people like me, who've too often found themselves in the margins.
What's the inspiration behind your project 'Daughters of Diaspora'?
"Daughters of Diaspora" is an exploration on the complexity of identifying with a single culture when you are a product of two or more.
For example, as a Canadian-born Nigerian, I've been exposed to two very different cultural traditions, mentalities and gender norms.
It's further complicated by the fact that "black culture" here often excludes African elements in preference of Afro-Caribbean or African-American cultures.
I want people to recognize the intersections of not being "Canadian" enough or "African" enough or "black" enough, and to establish a space where
I can identify with each of those cultures without having to assimilate.
Besides art what else are you passionate about?
I'm very passionate about social justice, which probably extends from my degree in Health Sciences and Women's Studies.
I want to see a world based in equity and equal opportunity, understanding and empowerment, love and liberation.
In your opinion how will you define creativity?
Creativity is making something out of nothing, or something new out of something old. It's innovation.
What do you like most about what you do?
"Daughters Of Diaspora" series by Ojo Agi
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