Faculty of Art

Drawing and Painting

A.Y. Johnson

The EthNic Man, stifled

Mixed media on raw convas

“A second installment of a work(s) of mine (“The EthNic Man”, 2021) which comment on the implications of Blackface and critiqued the imagery that is commonly associated with black raced people when we speak specifically of Africans. As it follows, “The EthNic Man, stifled” acts as a branch of that piece, and comments on the struggles of holding up a traditional African identity while being exposed to a western mindset. It explores the topic of dual identity as a Nigerian- Canadian and how stifling it can be to represent both sides equally, while never feeling truly in touch with my Nigerian heritage as I would like.”