Issue 2: The Art of Looking and Becoming
From solo trips and Gauguin crushes to chats with Ehiko Odeh, dive into how art stirs the soul, sparks nostalgia, and makes life a masterpiece.
I remember wandering through the halls of the Musée d’Orsay in Paris, just a few days after finishing the first semester of my master’s program. It was also the first day of my first solo trip. On this whirlwind two-day trip to Paris, I decided to immerse myself completely in art, cramming in as many museum and gallery visits as humanly possible.
Upon entering the museum, I made a beeline for the map to review the types of art, their eras, and themes. My eyes landed on a specific painting by Paul Gauguin (Tahitian Women on the Beach), one I had posted on my Instagram during my first year of undergrad. I’d been deeply drawn to Gauguin’s style and his controversial storytelling through art. I also noticed that the museum housed works by Monet, Manet, and Degas, all artists I had studied and come to admire.
As I roamed the Musée d’Orsay, soaking in the vibrant creativity and discovering unfamiliar works, I saved Gauguin’s pieces for last. (In true Ella fashion), standing before a painting I had adored for five years, I was overwhelmed with emotion and gratitude. This reaction surprised me; although I had always appreciated art and its influence on my identity, I had never experienced such a profound emotional connection to it. Little did I know, this trip would ignite a transformative relationship with art that has stayed with me to this day.
Today’s post is dedicated to that journey; how art has shaped and helped me understand myself better. I’ll also share highlights from a sit-down conversation with, Ehiko, where we delved into her life as an artist, her motivations, and how her work intertwines with culture and identity. We discussed how her creations evoke nostalgia and connect with people from all walks of life.
Where It All Began
Coming from a family brimming with creativity, it’s no surprise I was drawn to the arts. My dad is a talented photographer when he’s not busy with his full-time job; my mom, a brilliant abstract artist when not buried in work; my oldest sister, probably the most skilled photographer I’ve ever met; and my second sister (Ehiko), an incredible artist. As for me? I dabble in everything creative (except music of course).
In my first year of undergrad, I declared a minor in Theatre Studies. Unconventional, I know. Majoring in Political Science and minoring in Theatre Studies was an itch I needed to scratch. I wasn’t particularly drawn to art history or specific artists at the time, but I craved a creative outlet. My initial plan was to infiltrate the costume department, the closest thing to a fashion course my university offered, to lose myself in garments and sewing. However, I was quickly humbled when I realized how academic the program was. Despite the unexpected rigour, it turned out to be incredibly rewarding.
A prerequisite for Theatre Studies was a class called “Performance.” The name was misleading because there was little actual performing involved. Instead, we explored performative art, social and political movements, and the influence of art installations. This strange yet impactful course broadened my understanding of art’s societal role. Later, during my master’s program, I drew on this knowledge to connect performance art with advocacy and social movements.
Fast forward to my second semester, I enrolled in a seminar called “The Art in Motion.” By then, my enthusiasm for Political Science had waned, thanks to World Politics, a course dominated by loud debates among male students about nuclear warheads, Brexit, and Quebec sovereignty. Desperate for an escape, I turned to this art course led by Professor Jason Wilson, a reggae artist and one of my most inspiring professors. He introduced me to the idea that no art form exists in isolation due to cultural exchange. Weekly discussions in his class felt like a safe space for me, the only Black student, to share my thoughts. This was where my love for Paul Gauguin’s work and my curiosity about art’s cultural impact truly began.
Nurturing the Spark
By my final year of undergrad, I was fully immersed in the art world. I took a course in the Art History department, diving into everything from Renaissance and Impressionism to modern and contemporary art. This was where my admiration for artists like Monet, Degas, and Michelangelo blossomed.
Beyond painting and drawing, I explored photography, photojournalism, and the influence of iconic artists like Picasso and Da Vinci. This course tied everything together, reinforcing the idea from “The Art in Motion” that no art form exists in isolation everything is influenced by cultural exchange.
Art became my creative refuge, a way to express myself in ways Political Science, International Relations, and Development couldn’t. Over the years, I’ve visited incredible galleries worldwide, from the Orangérie in Paris (which houses my favourite paintings by Monet) to the Vatican Museums in Rome ( home to an astonishing amount of Hercules statues). Art has shaped my worldview, helping me understand culture and humanity on a deeper level.
A New Perspective: The Art and Practices of Looking
Two books have profoundly influenced my relationship with art.
The Practices of Looking: An Introduction to Visual Culture by Marita Sturken and Lisa Cartwright examines art as a medium of representation that reflects and shapes cultural and social realities. It emphasizes the viewer’s role in co-creating meaning, shaped by personal and cultural contexts, and highlights art’s power to challenge societal norms.
The Art of Looking: How to Read Modern and Contemporary Art by Lance Esplund approaches art as a language of feeling. Esplund argues that understanding art requires intuition and direct experience rather than overanalysis. He encourages viewers to engage with visual elements like colour, texture, and composition while embracing personal responses.
These books have deepened my understanding of art’s role in identity and global cultural exchange, tying seamlessly into this week’s spotlight on Ehiko.
Spotlight: Ehiko Odeh on Art, Identity, and the Power of Nostalgia
Ehiko Odeh, a multidisciplinary artist born and raised in Lagos, Nigeria, and an OCAD U alum, seamlessly navigates various artistic disciplines; painting, collage-making, textiles, and installations, while embracing painting as her primary medium. Since 2019, her work has focused on (but not limited to) exploring themes of hair and archival hair products, creating a series that is both deeply personal and universally resonant.
In an hour-long conversation, Ehiko and I delved into themes of identity, culture, globalization, intersectionality, and conscious consumption, exploring how these intersect with her art. Her reflections offered a window into the life of a modern artist and the inspirations that fuel her work.
The Roots of an Artistic Journey
Ehiko’s passion for art began in boarding school in Canada, where she thrived in her art classes. Creating gave her a sense of safety and healing, a way to nurture parts of herself that needed care. “Art was where I felt at home,” she shared, describing how her early success in those classes propelled her toward her creative calling.
Her upbringing in Lagos also profoundly influenced her work. She fondly recalls Sunday evenings when her mother would do her hair or visits to local salons adorned with posters of intricate hairstyles. These spaces, with their unique charm and sense of community, inspired her hair series. Products like Pink Oil and styling combs, once ubiquitous in salons and homes across Lagos, became symbols in her art, capturing a nostalgia that resonates far beyond her immediate experience.
Cultural Narratives and Representation
When I asked if she feels a responsibility to amplify cultural narratives through her work, her response was thoughtful:
“At first, I felt I had to. But my work ended up resonating with more people than I expected,” she said.
She emphasized the importance of telling the stories of hairstylists and salon culture, often overlooked or undervalued. Her fascination with hair products; like relaxers and oils, extends to their histories, particularly how global corporations brought them to places like Nigeria. Through her exhibitions, viewers from diverse backgrounds are often moved by a sense of nostalgia, realizing these products were a shared cultural touchstone.
This interplay of local and global ties into the idea that art shapes identity and reflects cultural exchange, showing how nothing exists in isolation. As she noted, “In Canada, where there’s a large Caribbean and African community, people were very receptive to my work.”
Art, Globalization, and Conscious Consumption
Our discussion also touched on globalization, particularly how it enabled hair products to travel across borders. For brands to thrive globally, they tailored their offerings to local markets. Yet, Ehiko pointed out how some of these products like, chemical relaxers, have sparked health concerns for Black women, an issue her art subtly addresses.
Her creative process is meticulous and deeply rooted in research. She loves reading books, academic and medical journals, and studying artists with similar themes. She also conducts her own ethnographic-style research by visiting salons, observing practices, and absorbing their essence.
The Joy of Creation
As a consumer of Ehiko’s art, I find her use of colour and scale striking, it evokes both nostalgia and joy. She embraces vibrant hues and bold experimentation, saying, “I’m naturally a joyous person, and I want my art to reflect that. My art and life are one.”
Ehiko hopes her work sparks not only joy but also critical thought about consumption, what we put on our hair and bodies, and the memories these choices evoke.
Art, Identity, and the Market
We discussed the evolving value of Black and underrepresented artists in today’s world. Ehiko reflected on the surge of interest in Black art following George Floyd’s death and the amplification of the Black Lives Matter movement in 2020. However, by 2022-2023, that demand waned, only to resurge in 2024. She described the experience as being treated like “stock on the stock market,” with Black art rising and falling in popularity based on trends.
Despite the challenges, Ehiko advises young artists to prioritize research, network within the art community, and build strong connections. “Research strengthens your work and opens doors to new ideas,” she said.
Art as Life
In closing, I asked Ehiko about the role of art in shaping cultural identity. Her response was profound:
She also highlighted the importance of amplifying female artists’ voices globally, acknowledging the immense value they bring to the world of art.
Some of her favourite artists at the moment include:
Sandra Brewster: A renowned Guyanese artist.
Sophia-Yemisi Adeyemo: A rising star.
Betye Saar: The godmother of assemblage art.
Jan Wade: Known for her evocative assemblages.
A Celebration of Art and Identity
Through her vibrant creations, Ehiko reminds us of the power of art to reflect identity, evoke joy, and inspire conscious thought. Her work is a testament to the enduring connections between life, culture, and creativity.
Bringing the Personal and Universal
Connecting my journey with insights from my conversation with Ehiko, Art has always been a powerful bridge between the personal and the universal a way to express identity, culture, and emotion. Whether I’m gazing at a painting, diving into a book, styling an outfit, or watching a play, art shapes how I engage with the world and find meaning in it.
During my undergrad, working in the theatre wardrobe department was one of the first times I saw how my cultural identity could intersect with creative expression. Designing costumes allowed me to experiment with colour and style, infusing a little of myself into each piece while still honouring the character’s story. It felt like a conversation between my lens and the universal themes of the plays we brought to life.
Art has also changed how I see the world. It’s taught me that all my passions; fashion, storytelling, politics, and even consumption, are interconnected. Over time, I’ve moved away from over-analyzing art and instead embraced how it makes me feel in the moment. It’s been a space for self-expression, a mirror for society, and a tool for exploring the deeper issues of identity, culture, and community.
This perspective is a big part of why I started this blog. Art has influenced my identity and worldview in ways that continue to surprise and inspire me, and I hope these weekly posts can do the same for you.
So, here’s a question:
How has art shaped your perspective on life, identity, or culture?
Let me know in the comments or send me a message, I’d love to hear your thoughts!
And before you go, don’t forget to check out Ehiko’s incredible work on her website and Instagram. Her art is a powerful reflection of identity and culture, and I can’t wait for you to see it.
Have a fantastic week ahead and I’ll see you next Monday :)!
My faves!! your collective creativity never ceases to amaze me!!
came back to reread! so great