Àsìkò

Conversations 2018

In 2016 a work colleague told me her story of female genitalia mutilation and how the cultural practice created a lasting psychological and physical impact on her life. In her story she detailed how she was cut at the age of 14 and how most women of her age from Somalia are cut as a normal occurrence. I started my research and exploration into an aspect of African culture I was unaware of.

This led to creating the work 'Conversations' which was a set of conceptual images about violence against women and its intersection with African culture. As I discovered these aspects of my heritage I became aware of the lasting impact of a patriarchal system that uses culture as a tool to ensure its durability, by suppressing female expression and sexuality. In the images, I use plants and flowers as symbolic expressions of culture, representing beauty, fragility and destructive power, likened by the role of culture in male dominated societies. In the images I created symbolic representations of physical and psychological effects of these violent practices of female genitalia mutilation, breast ironing, child marriage, sex slavery. The work was completed in 2018.

The artwork is made up of 3 editions each.

The Woman Code 2018

In the Woman Code I delve into the the symbolic meanings and design of Adire textiles; which are resist-dyed fabrics made up of complex symbols and patterns that convey specific meanings. The artwork encodes messages and proverbs which were used to communicate information and influence the unfolding of events.

During the history of Adire, women were not allowed to speak and express their opinions in public by the ruling class of men in the society. Adire symbols on fabric were used as a communication and expression mechanism among the Yoruba women of south-western Nigeria to overcome these barriers of patriarchy.In the work I strip away the symbols off the fabric onto female form highlighting its truest meaning and origin. It is an allegory of the woman wearing and expressing her subjugated voice and beliefs; it’s a symbolic expression of her true self and the wider community and language of women.

The artwork is made up of 3 editions each.

The Ase series 2016

The ase series explores Yoruba culture and it’s intersection with womanhood. Exploring the divine energy encapsulated within the black woman, her power, her energy, her vulnerability are all on display. It is believed in Yoruba culture that ase the energy within all living things is especially powerful in the female form. In the images I work with Yoruba women to visualise ase embedded within. 

The artwork is made up of 3 editions each.

The Adorned Series 2015

The Adorned series started from the recollection of a childhood memory of a woman I came across at my grandmothers funeral, she was tall, dark and had fierceness in her disposition. She seemed quite important as everyone seemed to revere her. She was layered in jewellery of different textures and sizes. I believe this formed the aesthetic basis for the adorned project. Out of that memory I started exploring womanhood and its confluence with culture, more so my African culture. I am interested in exploring beauty imbued within black women and how strength plays a part in that portrayal. The series explores womanhood, female archetypes and it’s intersection with culture and identity.

The artwork is made up of 3 editions each.

Mixed Media

Mixed media adorning prints with jewellery.

All pieces were 1 original limited piece.