Graduate Diploma Fine Art student Joseph Ijoyemi tells a story via life experiences

Joseph Ijoyemi is an Afro-Swedish contemporary artist studying Graduate Diploma Fine Art at Chelsea College of Arts. He creates both figurative and abstract work in mediums such as video, sculpture, and painting. Here, Joseph shares his submission for the UAL Graduate Showcase 2021 and talks about how he draws his inspiration from life experiences and conversations to weave a narrative into his work.

My practice represents a critical view of social and cultural issues. I have deep interests in mental health, the Black Lives Matter Movement and Nigerian African culture. Each project normally consists of multiple works which are grouped around specific themes and meanings to create a series. A new body of work usually stems from personal research and key events in my life.

My piece, titled Hands of Hope, is about how hands are a way of communicating to others through gestures and sign languages. The hands also have a way to communicate with each other in unison, so hands are communicating with hands. With our hands we can change things in a positive way and a negative way.

I had been creating from home before lockdown, but being back in the studio created a sense of unity and freedom - the chance to collaborate with my classmates and  engaging with others. I also enjoyed exploring my practice in a studio environment.

During the pandemic I was able to challenge myself and think out of the box. The course itself helped me to think critically as well as to be open in my practice. It helped me to find other mediums rather than just painting.

I have co-founded an organisation called The Collective Makers, which helps and finds opportunities for black emerging artists in their career.

We are having our first group exhibition this October to help black artist’s share their untold stories to the public. The theme of the exhibition is called ‘Black in Full Colour’.

View more of Joseph’s work on the UAL Graduate Showcase.

• View the full UAL Graduate Showcase 2021
• Find out more about Graduate Diploma in Fine Art