A Visual Album (Copy)

IN TRANSLATION: A Visual Album

ARTIST STATEMENT

Art has impacted every part of my life; keeping me company, providing a sense of agency, teaching me and answering the big questions. Unsurprisingly, I’m enthralled not only by those who make the art, but also the effect the art itself has on artists and audiences. What exactly goes into the making of art and the deep emotional value it has to the audience often goes overlooked. As a sensory being, I try to intentionally curate my life around interests and desires. The most prevalent art form I personally consume is music, because it’s abstract and can occupy space (by keeping you company) and time by helping you ponder and consider things. As a result of this deep love, I’ve developed a critical mind around music. I actually know more records front-to-back than any other form of art in any other medium. That shows how powerful music is, which makes sense because the most powerful things are the ones you can’t see. The impact this has had on my creative process leads me to view my own art through the critical lens of music; creating bodies of work, exploring nuanced themes, including abstract emotive elements like harmonic layers, sonic layers, lyricism, cadence, metaphors, etc. It’s influenced me to find a way of translating the concentrated dynamism of music into a two dimensional, bordered painting. They say a picture’s worth a thousand words, and I aim to explore ways to represent more in my art to bring near-literal truth to that statement. 

So why create a series of “translated” works? For all the above reasons — I’m trying to fully view my own art and the creation of it in the same way I do music to show the eternal dialogue between art forms. Countless times we hear of a song inspired by a movie, or a movie inspired by a poem, etc etc. There’s a constant trade of ideas and methods of expressing similar themes, with artists each putting their own twists to age-old stories, through their own perspectives. In the past, I’ve explored this idea of translations twice — once in an Undergrad elective art class where our assignment was to communicate in visual form how a song — preferably on without lyrics — felt.  It was interesting to even think about, so I painted Childish Gambino’s “Urn” — not instrumental, but not vocal heavy. I made a cute little 8” x 10” orange piece that felt fluid. Like evening, like streams, like fur. Just like the song. It was basic, but decent and effective. The second, Yemisi, a friend and poet, had written a poem called “womxn”, that had strong space imagery. They hit me up for a painting, and with the new experience, I was able to create the painting and maintain the cosmic themes of their piece. 

All that was in 2016, and two solo exhibitions later, this idea has reared its head again. 

The timing seems serendipitous, releasing IN TRANSLATION during a time when we’ve been locked down for nearly a year, with next to nothing to rely on but art as entertainment, escape or coping mechanism. More people are making art day-to-day, to feel like they have some say over what goes on in their lives. Even I, whose been blessed to create art on a freelance basis, rely on those creations for a sense of normalcy and control. Once again, art comes through for me — and many more — creating a sense of agency. Moreover, in this time of everyone depending on art, more people have clearly seen how invaluable the industry is. People rarely talk about the good parts about being an artist. On one hand, there's a culture of people looking down on artists, (e.g.: the “starving” stereotype). On the other, simultaneously they look up to artists, and the emotions their work is able to evoke and there’s a strange dichotomy there in how artists are treated. All my life I’ve known I want to be an artist, and I’ve faced so much pushback and so many obstacles. You’d really think knowing what you want to do and chasing it means the path to achieve it wouldn’t be so friction-heavy. But I’m here, aware of my gifts and strengths and what art has done for me personally. 

I say it all the time, but I 100% would not be here without art. This collection thanks The Creator for art, artists for creating and contributes to that community of art that serves a function, even if it’s mainly sensory. Art is consumed so rapidly now, so I’m trying to be more intentional in creating and consuming art myself. Trying to make timeless work and tap into the spirit of creativity and profoundness intrigues me, that’s why each painting is in direct dialogue with another piece of art.

IN TRANSLATION is an album — a body of work on its own with themes and concepts, narratives and direction, thought, effort and flow. I hope that this series inspires others who feel similarly because on a human level, people demonize your feelings, curiosity, desires, etc. But we need to understand people are all wired differently and are allowed to feel, express, dream, manifest, try and follow our own paths. So many times I’ve tried to try, but have been told no. At this point, at 25, I’ve seen, felt, and experienced, so I’m just going to do what I feel like I’m here to do. A lot of people want to be artists too — even the ones who don’t know what their talent or skill is. They still want to have the freedom that artists have to express. Many artists themselves feel weighed down by the idea that they can’t do things on their own and need representation or management to succeed. But I executed two successful solo shows on my own as an international student. I want to encourage others to just do. Try. 

We all have ideas but we don’t all always execute. You can gauge your circumstances, skills, whatever you need to. But don’t disregard your dreams and plans. Going against the pushback and doing my own shows turned the tide and without that, there would not have been the sense of identity I’ve formed now, with the tastes, perspectives and interests that have shaped IN TRANSLATION today. Express your artistry.

Copy by Imara Celine