Artist Interview: Joke Amusan

Growing up believing my story didn’t matter, I turned to crafting as a way to express myself and it quickly became very healing.

This prompted me to investigate the origins of craft (particularly textiles) because I felt a deep connection to it and was unsure of the reason why. I discovered that textiles hold a significant cultural and social importance in Nigerian culture. For centuries, craft has been used as form of expression to preserve stories and traditions, and to raise awareness of issues in order to promote real change.

It shows me that, despite being soft, it still has the power to make a difference.

The following poem I wrote describes my reflection on craft and how it’s linked to our being:

Knit together in our mother’s wombs.

Every fibre of our being intricately designed.

Isn’t it amazing how our body holds us together?

All organs carefully aligned. Fit for purpose. Made to withstand life’s hurdles.

Our fabric woven together by a seam, connecting us as though hands joining in solidarity.

None of us are out of place.

We each have our own unique strengths that we bring to the table.

When one of us is suffering, we should do what we can to support them. To heal, together.

The act of sewing/stitching binds and mends.

A needle is used to repair, forgive, and move on, but our experiences sometimes leave scars that don’t disappear.

No matter how much we try to conceal them.

Our loose threads and seams are not something to be ashamed of but to celebrate because, despite barely being held together, we’re still together.

Existing.

Persevering through it all.

There Is Not A Seam Out Of Place In Our Fabric

I started creating at a time when I was exploring how to tell my story in a way that felt authentic to me.

Words have always been important to me, and I recognised from an early age just how powerful they are. From experiencing what it felt like for words to be used to put me down, I knew I wanted to use words to empower instead.

Having explored many mediums in the past, textiles is the one medium I kept coming back to. Eventually I came across the art of stitching. It felt like a natural way for me to express my thoughts, and I used it as a mouthpiece when I felt too afraid to use my voice. I didn’t realise at the time but, the more I created, the more I started to believe the phrases I stitched.

I started by creating artworks to speak to my younger self, and it evolved into reaching others who felt the same. Creating became a means to do what I can to uplift the Black women and girls around me.

Each artwork I create is an act of resilience.

My artwork exists to share the experiences and complex beauty of what it means to be a Black woman. It’s rooted in storytelling, sharing my personal experiences, identity and heritage, and continuing to do so by highlighting the stories of other Black women and girls.

My art pieces are conversational, encouraging women to come together to share their stories and to embrace who they are unapologetically. Each work is a conversation starter, a place from which to keep thinking and hopefully act.

When sharing my work, it’s usually accompanied by thoughts that have arisen while creating my pieces. Through my work, I want to show others that we deserve to be respected. We are so much more than the stereotypes put in place by society. We are resilient and strong, but also sensitive and soft, and all of that is ok.

I wrote the following poem to unpack what I believe it means to be a Black woman:

To be a Black woman is:

To be resilient in a world that tells you you’re less than

Breaking free from the carefully crafted box designed to contain you and your experiences

A confrontation rooted in sadness and pain, but also courage to set new standards

Not being afraid to stand out in spaces where no one looks like you

Constantly reminding yourself that you really do belong here

Being pitted against another Black woman, but for that not to stop you from empowering each other because WE NEED EACH OTHER

To be a Black woman is: To survive and fight to tell your story.

My Very Existence Is Defiance

Photograph by James Turnball

Inspiration for my pieces comes from a myriad of places.

When I first started creating, my only source was my thoughts and lived experiences, but now it also comes from the world around me, whether that’s conversations with friends, music, topics of discussion in the media, or nature. I’m constantly observing things and making mental notes.

My creative process is influenced by how I’m feeling and what I feel the need to express. Lately, I’ve been inspired by nature and how it teaches us that we each go through seasons of change that are vital to our growth. I’ve been enjoying exploring what it means to be a Black woman through all the seasons.

Photograph by Fernando Manoso-Borgas

My favourite part about what I do is being able to create something that can make other Black women and girls feel seen, heard and valued. I spent most of my younger years not seeing anyone who looked like me in the art world, in positions of power, and so on.

Representation is important, and I’m thankful to the Black women who have overcome every hurdle in their way to make the journey easier for us today. They have inspired me to keep creating and pushing to make the voices of Black women and girls heard.

As I continue in my art journey, I’m realising that community is what motivates me. I’m grateful to be part of a community that champions and uplifts each other. I encourage everyone to try and find spaces where you can be supported, held accountable, and be encouraged to keep growing.

Beyond my artworks, I find it invaluable being able to be helped and to help others in their various walks of life.

Photography by Riki Auton for Artiq

The artwork I’m most proud of creating so far has been an installation piece I created for my Art degree show at university.

University was where I first allowed myself to explore my German-Nigerian identity and heritage through my artworks, and all of my explorations led to the artwork ‘Das Ist Für Dich (This Is For You)’. The piece features large hessian fabric with the words ‘DAS IST FÜR DICH’, ‘BLACK. AND?’, and ‘THE TIME IS NOW’ stitched into them with red yarn. The hessian was suspended from the ceiling and draped down at various angles, along with stools and a table made of concrete, and speakers from which a sound piece I created echoed through the room.

I would describe the piece as a sculptural imitation of myself because it features all the elements that make me who I am. From the coarse hessian fabric that highlights migration and journeys overseas to the soft red yarn that demands to be seen. From the concrete that pays homage to the strength and perseverance of Black women who have laid solid foundations to the sound piece that features sounds of the Atlantic Ocean, the Nigerian national anthem, Black British music, and poetry from Maya Angelou.

With this piece, it was important for me to take up space and be heard. I knew that I needed to have a strong understanding and acceptance of who I am to be able to help others feel the same.

The moment I finished the artwork, I knew that this would be the start of me being my unapologetic self. I promised myself in that moment that no matter what I do, I would strive to live out what that means.

Starting something new is always very exciting because it’s an opportunity to learn something new and grow along the way.

When beginning a new craft, I would encourage experimentation. Allow yourself to try out different ways of working. This is the only way you’ll be able to find out what you love and what works best for you. I’ve allowed myself to experiment a lot lately, and I’ve found that my final pieces came from the little experiments I made that I didn’t think would go anywhere.

When starting a business, I would recommend making a business plan first. Having a plan will give you a sense of direction and make your goals feel more achievable. I would recommend listing your key objectives, establishing your vision and values, and creating a mission statement that summarises why your business exists. I’ve been doing art full-time for nearly two years and being clear on why I do what I do has been vital in helping me stay grounded.

Photograph by Jacob Power

This theme feels particularly special to me because it highlights the importance of elevating the individual (often forgotten or unseen) stories of Black people.

The theme aligns with the goals I have in my art practice to amplify Black voices and allow us to take back control of our history, culture, and experiences. It’s imperative that we’re able to tell our own stories because that’s the only way authenticity can exist.

I think it’s also important to challenge the misrepresentation of Black people to decolonise history and restore that authenticity. The theme is a unique opportunity to shift cultural narratives and foster a richer understanding of Black identity. This awareness can help create a more inclusive future where Black people are celebrated and respected. It has the power to have a lasting impact. I hope this continues beyond Black History Month.

The number one goal of my workshops has always been to create a safe, no-judgement space where participants can feel valued. Having personally been in spaces where I felt like I couldn’t be my unapologetic self, this is something that must change in the art world and beyond.

I strongly believe that we can all work towards making the world a better place, no matter how small it may seem. Our ‘little’ contributions are what amount to the big ones. I decided that I wanted to work towards this through my workshops. When I first started facilitating workshops, I set some values for how I envisage the workshop sessions to be.

Some of these values include:

- Inclusivity & Diversity: Highlighting that my workshops are open to everyone, no matter your background or experience.

- Respect: Setting a clear expectation for the respect of everyone’s opinions and ideas.

- Freedom of Expression: Although many of my workshops have a theme, it only acts as a guide. Participants are encouraged to experiment, follow their instincts, and freely express themselves.

My workshops are rooted in storytelling, therefore it’s important that I create a safe space for participants to feel comfortable enough to open up. It’s a relaxed hub away from the busyness of life, a place for conversations and creativity to freely flow.

Photograph by Riki Auton

While there have been many moments in my art career that I’m grateful for, the best moment has been getting my own art studio – it was my first big investment in myself and represents the belief in my potential. It had been a dream of mine for years and I’m still amazed that I managed to get one so soon in my career.

I truly believe that when you invest in yourself first, people will see it and be more willing to invest in you too. My art studio has not only provided room for many exciting collaboration opportunities, but also allowed me to be more ambitious with my work.

In the future, I aspire to continue collaborating with brands whose values I align with.

I’ve seen from experience that art can transcend barriers, so I’m excited to continue working on projects that are experimental and thought-provoking. I’m working towards producing artworks that can create immersive environments you can interact with and to make my work more accessible.

I would love my artworks to translate into a multitude of different mediums. I have a lot of ‘out there’ ideas, and I’m currently working on refining them so that I can hopefully see them established in real life one day.

I would also like to keep finding ways to help build community. I wouldn’t be where I am today without the community I have around me. I would like to help create spaces for others to be encouraged along their creative journey too.

Photograph by Phil Adams

Collaborating with art organisations, galleries and individuals is a great way to expand your creative practice.

To prepare for potential collaborations, it’s good to have a strong portfolio showcasing your best work and skills, a website with easy access to your latest work and achievements, and a good social presence which shows that you are dedicated to your craft. Remember to research the organisation beforehand so that you can tailor your pitch to show them that you’re a good fit, too.

For me, attending networking events has also been a good way to make genuine connections with people. Some of the opportunities I’ve had came from a friendly conversation.

If you believe in your work, others are more likely to believe in it too so keep advocating for yourself!

Photograph by Jacob Power