“With her Flowers Series, Owanto further argues that “it is important to include images that record the history of women in the narrative of Art academia.
Image curtesy of Owanto Studio
Knowing that these images stand as testimonies gives more depth and ‘raison d’etre’ / ‘raision d'existence’, so that it is part of the archives of the future. Digitalising them preserves the stories and brings out the conversation of how women can be in charge of their own bodies, starting by reclaiming their territory.”
As an artist, Owanto has been forced to ask the question regarding the manner of representation of her artwork. The Flowers Series deals with trauma. However, the artist is faced with the query of how to make such a subject matter desirable. How does one separate or juxtapose aesthetics from and with the seriousness and the gravity of an issue? How does one represent a subject through a method that is both sensitive and impactful?
What skill does one need to possess in order to translate such a potentially jarring matter into a subtle but powerful message? It takes many to win a fight and to win a war. Owanto, as well as many other artists and activists, are changing the present and in turn, the future. As we currently work on history, we create archives that stand for eternity.
Dec 2022 | Collective Action Magazine
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