We had the opportunity to chat with Joy Adeola about her artistic journey, the inspiration behind her work, and the display of her art at our upcoming Hey Sis... Exhibition. Let’s delve into the world she creates, a world that celebrates the multifaceted essence of Black women.
Through A Different Lens: Inspired by Her Own Nearsightedness, Joy Adeola Uses Blurred Elements to Represent Overlooked Moments, Prompting Viewers to Appreciate the Beauty in the Details.
Joy Adeola (b. 1999) is a Nigerian-Canadian photographer based within the GTA. Through storytelling, she captures the vitality of life and human relationships, documenting their changing rhythms in ways that are dually universal and intimate.
How did you become an artist?
I believe being an artist starts with being an observer. I’ve always been captivated by the world around me, constantly noting how things are shaped, the emotions on people's faces, and the stories hidden in everyday moments. This curiosity evolved into a desire to express what I saw and felt through various mediums. Over time, this practice of observation and expression became a fundamental part of who I am, guiding me on a path to explore and create. I’m not sure how I became an artist but I feel like I’ve always been one. I’m grateful that through my work, I can share these observations and invite others to see the beauty and complexity that often goes unnoticed.
Can you share a particular moment or experience that significantly impacted your
artistic journey?
As awful as it was, the COVID lockdown gave me the time and space to focus and experiment with visual storytelling. I was forced to slow down and be patient with myself, which pushed me to explore creating. Exploring photography was perfect because it forced me to be reflective. With art, I have always put pressure on myself to create ‘good’ work quickly. The slowness and isolation of lockdown essentially forced me to focus on my perspective and simply create. I think this time impacted my artistic journey significantly helping me focus on what I want to make and to enjoy the process of making.
How do you decide your themes?
The themes are largely influenced by my community, specifically and almost always by my family and friends. I live life with them, I see the world with and through them. The similarities and differences in our experiences inform how I see the world. Speaking of seeing, a major theme of my work is magnifying the overlooked moments and aspects of life. I express this by playing with focus making subjects and/or other elements unfocussed to reflect forgotten but impactful moments in our lives. This theme was inspired by my poor eyesight lol, becoming nearsighted was an experience I detested - wondering what visual experience I was missing, but as time went on, I learned to appreciate and adore my perspective. It allowed me to see that my perspective was true even if it was different and imperfect.
What inspired In Her Solace?
In her Solace is a portrait of my friend Tola. She is very bubbly and it is very hard to frown around her. Having known her for over 4 years, the bubbly image of her stuck with me. but within this moment, she showed me another side of herself. a more solemn side of her. It was amazing to see more of her. I’d known Tola to be this incredible, kind, intelligent (she is currently finishing up her Masters in Chemical Engineering) light but seeing her in this state reminded me of how multifaceted black women are.
What emotions or thoughts do you hope to evoke in viewers of your work?
I hope to evoke feelings of self-reflection and nostalgia. I particularly want black women to look at my work, see a reflection of themselves and their complexity, and be proud of that.
How do you feel about exhibiting your work? What does this exhibition mean to you?
It's quite fulfilling to exhibit my work, sharing my perspective visually is nice. I love seeing people’s reactions and interpretations of my work. The exhibition means celebrating all the black women in my life.
Are there any particular pieces in this exhibition that hold special significance to
you and why?
Dear Sister is quite important to me. I took this photo very early in my career and was experimenting a lot with different techniques to find a specific style that defined my perspective on life. I was capturing everything trying to figure out what my look/perspective should be. so I started with the people closest to me, my family. I documented their every move, much to their dismay. In this piece, my sister was doing her hair. I love this piece because it exemplifies how intimate the act of doing our hair, black hair is. it's deeply connected to our sense of self, culture, and identity. This ritual reflects our heritage, our resilience, and the love we pour into ourselves while showcasing the profound significance of such everyday acts within our community.
I also really love this piece because it features my sister. My family, particularly my siblings, are my favourite subjects.
What should our guests be most excited to see in your exhibition?
I'm excited for our guests to see the multifaceted nature of black women reflected in the different colours, environments, and actions. Each piece captures a unique aspect of our experiences, from vibrant hues that symbolize boldness to serene settings that offer a glimpse into moments of introspection and strength. The pieces portray a sample of the range of Black women, celebrating our existence.
Through this exhibition, I hope to inspire a deeper appreciation for the richness and complexity of our stories, encouraging viewers to engage with and honour the profound presence of Black women in our world.
Lastly, How do you relate to the word "sis"?
There are many ways you can say 'sis.' To underline a point. To call someone out. To cry out. it's fitting that 'sis' is a word that fosters connection. just as black women do, it creates a bond and familiarity. This bond and familiarity is one I share with my sister when we get excited about the hairstyle we'd like to do. The experience of having this connection is like no other.
Ọ̀KẸ́ is on a mission to unveil cultural riches, showcasing our similarities and experiences in each exhibition. Find out more about Hey Sis...
Hey Sis... is supported by STACKT and RADRCanada.
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