A.Y. Johnson

As an interdisciplinary artist I work in painting, installation, photography, drawing and sculpture My subject matter is both introspective and experimental in nature, and centers on afro-centric social issues, black feminist dialogue, identity, a...

As an interdisciplinary artist I work in painting, installation, photography, drawing and sculpture My subject matter is both introspective and experimental in nature, and centers on afro-centric social issues, black feminist dialogue, identity, and representation. More particularly, many of my projects use a mix of mediums to explore topics embedded in traditional Yoruba culture and heritage. Of particular interest to me is the exploration of the themes and teachings embedded in Yoruba mythology, and their current relation to our societies. Taking inspiration from these themes I am interested in drawing viewers into conversations about spirituality, tradition, acceptance and more. My process often consists of making a collection of objects, images, and sketches that address a loose theme, and then using my experiences and interpretations, I create meaning through the compositions and relationships built between these objects. Many pieces start with a kind of open-ended uncertainty that affords more space for surprise and discovery. This leads to my interests in a variety of mediums and ways to interpret my ideas. I think of the rhythm of this process as fast then slow, a multitude of quick pieces that avoid the pressures of finality. I then use these collections as material to build a narrative or experience that relies on relationships between those pieces, or patterns that reveal themselves only when they are examined as a group I am interested in an expanded definition of art, and often look at my works as a catalogue of my interpretations, a place I can look back to in self-reflection. I collate, mend and combine various mediums and place importance on crafting as a part of my practice. This process is very sculptural and intimate. The barrier free visualization of art-making affords me the ability to make the most of my ideas.