Glory Samjolly

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BA Fine Art, Painting
Wimbledon College of Arts

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Pop culture’s influence on art is climactic in London’s Afro-Caribbean community, creating the mind battles I face as a feminist artist. I am Afro-Caribbean myself; 50% Jamaican and Sierra Leone. I am aware that there are new versions of traditional art generated through popular culture’s trap music, emotionally-engaging films and black paintings, but my greatest discomfort is seeing how these mediums adopt negative euphemisms to rouse controversy between the races, genders and cultural traditions. One issue I still come across is the lack of comprehension between the older and younger generations in London. E.g. Youth colloquial in school and other work environments is used to tease and attack teachers or elders, typically derogatory slang against female teachers. Some of the hard grime, trap or bashment artists that I listen to can deteriorate how I understand my femininity and alter how others understand me. E.g Just because I am a black, Jamaican girl, I must be an oversexualised or promiscuous person, whose attitude speaks louder than my intellect. Like girls today, I tried to change because of pop culture’s strong influence on women like me, but at times my family’s cultural music or art can be a stronghold, binding me to beliefs that take away instead of add value to my walk of purpose. My goal as an artist is to create a unique style, like Yinka Shonibare, causing young artists to assess how pop culture (especially Afro-Caribbean pop culture) adds or takes away from their identity.