Introduction:
Kokab is a gifted artist from Jamaica that is influenced by her West African and Iranian family roots as well as her home country of Jamaica. These converging aspects of her background inspires her to make fantasy realism pieces depicting ordinary people from her geography in a unique way. We asked Kokab a few questions about her innovative style and the geographies that are significant to her.
1) How would you describe your artistic style?
"I would describe my style as colourful, vibrant, fantasy realism, aimed at representing people of colour, with a lot of curiosity and magic thrown in".
2) Do you have any major artistic influences for your work?
"I'm creatively inspired by many things, including anime, fantasy books, music and other artists. Some of the artists who influence me include Joshua Mays, Jen Bartel, James Jean, Bisa Butler, Michelangelo, Sara Golish, Ebonee Davis, Artemisia Gentileschi, Hayao Miyazaki, Lois Van Baarle, Roberto Fierri and many many more".
3) What Inspires you?
"Stories inspire me. Being curious about life from the most mundane things to the most fantastical. People, and how limitless our imaginations can be, inspire me. I'm also inspired by the stories of my people and aim to represent them as best I can. I want to learn as much as I can so that I can create and give my own stories so that others might be further inspired to tell theirs".
4) How does your home Geography inspire or influence your art?
"My home, Jamaica, inspires me from its nature to its people. I draw a lot of faces similar to what I know, and I like to incorporate plants and animals into my work. The traditions, customs and folklore are things I try to incorporate into my work as well, I've always been interested in the mythologies of this island. But I also am influenced by the geographies of my parents, grandparents and ancestors, who came from West Africa and Iran. My parents did not know Jamaica as a country of birth as I did, so tying in my connections with theirs is always an ongoing experiment in my art and makes the world feel simultaneously both small and large. There's much to explore".
5) Do your works comment on contemporary socio-cultural or political themes?
"I think the very act of creating art as a black woman, that defies the normal rhetoric we usually see surrounding black people, in itself, is relevant commentary. I try as much as I can to not have my art defined by pain, but instead be aspirationally representative. We see so much news, so much commentary from every direction on a daily basis, our mental health collectively as a world is taking a toll. If my art can offer an escape in any way, I would feel like I achieved part of my goal".
