By: Sakura Koner
The colour of my skin never bothered me. I grew up in India, melanin was never a racial issue. I grew up with a healthy dose of art and culture around me, female artists were rare, but their unique attribute of being a woman of colour in art never occurred to me until I opened my eyes to the global environment. So what does it mean to be a woman of colour in art?
The world of art is separate from our realities. In art, we have access to experiences from across the globe, representation of joys and successes, trials and tribulations, the basic experiences and the unique ones. Art is not about capturing the most ubiquitous of emotions. It is about welcoming communities who are unknown to the artists’ and giving them a glimpse into their world. If we name the most widely known artists and musicians, a picture begins to form. This picture is missing a global perspective, where 50% of the population, regardless of race, have not been included. It is a picture where WOC face a paucity of representation. But this is our new world and we refuse to be shunned. Although being a WOC continues to be a struggle, more and more are finding their niche, allowing the global platform to look up and take notice of what it means to be a WOC.
It is amazing for young people of colour to see the rise of WOC in art with exhibitions in some of the most influential contemporary art museums and galleries. These WOC are empowering budding artists everywhere with their ingenuity and usage of various media for their creative pursuits. Jordan Casteel’s work highlights men of colour and portray them in a different light, creating an image outside of common stereotypes. Jamea Richmond-Edwards’ work is influenced by the drug addiction problems she witnessed in her family; additionally she uses her work to change the female narrative. Mequitta Ahuja creates paintings with herself as the central subject, surrounded by African-American and Southeast Asian icons, to represent her roots. Eboay G. Patterson is a Jamaican artist who depicts the crimes of youths of colour in a different light, that focuses on reclaiming the narrative. In our modern society, artists have multiple platforms to display their art. Social media is a magnificent platform for WOC artists to gain not just visualization, but also influence the masses with their work. Genesis Tramaine paints intricate abstract portraits, bringing together devotional and familial influences, especially the women who raised her. Gabriella Sanchez’s beautifully chaotic art illustrates her Mexican-American identity. Hiba Schahbaz was born and raised in Pakistan and her art is widely influenced by Indo-Persian components, which she uses to explore the female form. Daniela Rojas creates arousing and bizarre futuristic images, using religious and indigenous iconography. WOC continue to make massive strides in their areas of expertise across the world. As artists, they are impelling budding artists to not be afraid and showcase their work. We need WOC to have the platform to highlight the dialogue on what it means to be a WOC and to encourage the younger generation that they are not alone. Because all art matters!
QWOCC 