BACKSTAGE with multimedia artist Tijay Mohammed

Follow Tijay Mohammed at https://artoftijay.com/

RSVP: https://community.nostudios.com/events/39319

My art is informed by personal and community stories incorporating historical references. In my multimedia site-specific installations and workshops, I create group portraits by assembling day-to-day objects (Fabric scraps, metro cards, jewelries, photographs, stories, etc.) into symbolic engaging discoveries, whilst communicating their hopefulness in a new life which might have been overlooked, forgotten or no longer valuable to their possessors or communities. I honor their history, previous breathes, journey and DNA through the process of reuse in addressing immigration, social and gender issues.

The process of research and experimentation is the best part of my job. My interactive process demonstrates a commitment to community, self-love and appreciation of history and culture informed by a complex view of the African and African American experiences inspired by the Ghanaian Adinkra symbol “Sankofa” which means learning from the past for a prosperous future.

The best advice that I can give to someone who is exploring my career is to always do it for the love for humanity and be honest to yourself in both private and professional life.

Like Nelson Mandela said, “It is in your hands, to make a better world for all who live in it.

I socialize with purpose by seeing art in all of my encounter.