The Team had the pleasure of meeting an exhibiting artist for Hey Sis, Simone Patricia,
an artist whose work celebrates the strength and beauty of the Afro community.
Simone’s artistic journey began early, fueled by a lifelong passion for creating.
From Inadequate Representation to Presenting a Piece of Her Art at THE MUSEUM, Simone Patricia’s Story Is Blooming Bright.
Afro-Caribbean Artist Simone Patricia is a contemporary artist from the Waterloo Region.
Her expressive colour-filled paintings pay homage to her African-Caribbean heritage/culture. Simone graduated with degrees in both Visual Arts and Education. Her works depict the diversity within the Afro community and focus on the evolution of said community in a positive light. Portraying Afro excellence and beauty in every aspect is Simone's drive and motivation.
Simone focuses on a combination of geometry and vibrancy to create fluidity and freedom within her works. Her goal is to forever move forward and upward with her work and not backward.
How did you become an artist?
In short, I’ve always been an artist. Ever since I was young, I would be drawing or doing
some sort of arts and crafts any given chance I got. That love for visual arts continued
throughout my life, has now brought me to where I am now.
Can you share a particular moment or experience that significantly impacted your
artistic journey?
A moment that significantly impacted my artistic journey was presenting a piece of mine
at THE MUSEUM in Kitchener for the Black and Free Project led by Dr. Naila Keleta-
Mae. It was truly a 360 moment for me. Going from growing up in a city that didn’t enjoy
an adequate representation and support for black people, to being in THE MUSEUM
taking up deserved space and presenting my piece on what it means to be Black and
Free.
How do you decide your themes?
I am an artist who creates for the Afro community. With that being said, the themes I
decide on for my works pay homage to my roots and that of the Afro communities.
Whether the theme be based on joy, happiness, love, etcetera; my decisions always
stem from making sure that the Afro community is represented and portrayed in a
positive light.
What inspired Bloom?
The theme of this exhibition, "Hey Sis" inspired Bloom. This piece represents sisterhood and unification, the connection between us Afro women and what comes with the greeting “hey sis”. That feeling and knowing of comfort and love. Being able to lean on and into your sisterhood while letting loose and dropping the weight of the world, sharing life and watering each other’s mind and spirit.
What emotions or thoughts do you hope to evoke in viewers of your work?
Through my works, I hope that the viewers can resonate, connect and feel
comfort, joy, and peace.
How do you feel about exhibiting your work? What does this exhibition mean to
you?
Exhibiting my work has always been something I’ve wanted to do from a young age.
Knowing that I can share my talents and thoughts with the public is a beautiful
feeling. As this isn’t my first exhibition, I do enjoy and take pride in showcasing
what comes from my heart.
Are there any particular pieces in this exhibition that hold special significance to
you and why?
I feel that a lot of my pieces hold special significance to me. Majority of my works are a
representation of my own life experiences or those dear to me. It means a lot to me,
being able to work from close experiences and my experiences of my own. In this case,
both works shown in this exhibit are both significant.
What should our guests be most excited to see in your exhibition?
I feel the guests/audience should be most excited to experience the beauty,
representation, and love that is put into every piece from each artist in this exhibit.
Lastly, How do you relate to the word "sis"?
When I hear the word sis I instantly think Aunty, Mama, Best-friend, Sister. I think of the woman who comes to spread and share her peaceful frequency. I relate myself to said women. I am "sis".
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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