Artists Statement
I paint about places I have lived. This is an attempt to understand my life overseas as a perpetual outsider. My work reflects on issues of dual identities as a result of our ever-changing global societies and borders. These paintings function as a journal of personal commentaries on diasporic populations and experiences.
All the work, though made in different countries, is a reflection of research and personal experiences. At times, they are about places of conflict and the difficulties of co-existence, at other times they are about finding an escape route to a better life or a celebration of cultural traditions. I am currently living in Burkina Faso where I am researching textiles, masks and traditional customs. This country is known as the land of the upright men, who are now striving for autonomy from the West.
My aim is to contradict the current narrative about Burkina Faso as a violent place and to celebrate the resilience, strength beauty and culture of the Burkina Beys.
Each small oil painting on wood is highly detailed.
My goal is to convey respect for the distinctiveness of these cultures I reside in by incorporating regional cultural elements with contemporary forms and styles. I attempt to make paintings that possess a sense of magic, traversing cultures, geographies and psychological boundaries by combining these disparate elements.