Almost all living creatures migrate in one way or the other – and all eventually learn to adapt in order to survive. As an African living in Europe for the first time, and I create mix-media textured art on canvas to process the emotions that come with multiple culture shock experiences.
The colour contrasts highlight my personal highs & lows as I navigate an entirely new culture whilst rediscovering a precious version of myself I had once lost. This collection was made for anyone who, like myself, has left home behind and has had to rebuild in an entirely new place:
“SEASONS OF CHANGE”
I started painting again to cope with home sickness. I poured my emotions into this piece every time I felt overwhelmed and somehow, a whole year – four different seasons – had passed since the day I started…
“TO BE SEEN, IS TO BE LOVED”
There is something so odd about being the only person of a different race in a room with people who are determined to pretend otherwise. Somehow you feel very visible, and yet still so invisible.
“FADING MEMORIES”
It is hard leaving home, it is even harder to accept that the home we return to will be different from the one in our memories, the next time we see it. So we desperately hold on to our most precious of memories, in the hopes that these will shine bright during the difficult times.
“FROZEN OUT”
It is difficult to make friends as an adult – even more so with people from a whole different culture. So many misunderstandings happen, and in cultures where talking issues out is not common practice – we often find ourselves simply frozen out of communities we were trying to connect with.
“UNDER THE SAME SKY, BUT WORLDS APART”
There is a quite grief that comes with living abroad and coming home to people you know, and yet no longer ‘know’. Time has passed, and though we share a history and keep in touch, they no longer feel as familiar, as comfortable as they used to be – neither do we, to them. Then reality settles, we are finally under the same sky, yet worlds apart.
“EPIPHANIES”
One is never really prepared for the clarity gained when one goes through an emergency – medical or otherwise – in a foreign land, especially for the first time. Suddenly you learn who is your friend, and who was simply just being friendly.
“SIGNS OF INTEGRATION”
The weather was the biggest challenge after leaving home. It was was always so cold and the sun did not produce enough warmth on days it did show up. The day I found myself playing outside after it snowed, in – 15°c temperatures, I finally accepted that this sunshine and blue skies girl had finally started adapting – and dare I say it – has began to integrate.
“CODE SWITCHING”
It feels weird to switch between different versions of myself depending on where I am and who I am with. The silent heartache of having to accept that people around you can only accept parts of who we are, not our entire personality, is the kind of pain all immigrants can relate to.
