Zohra Opoku: Empowering Children of Color to Love Themselves
The interview between Zohra Opoku and Julia Grosse featured in Contemporary And highlights her mission to empower children of color through art. Opoku, an artist and educator, discusses her use of art to address themes of identity and self-love, particularly for children who may face societal challenges related to race and ethnicity. She emphasizes the importance of representation and creating spaces where children of color can see themselves positively reflected. Opoku also shares insights into her artistic process and the impact she hopes to have on her young audience, fostering self-esteem and cultural pride.
"The new body of work explores how consumption and mass media images in childhood can be detrimental to the identity of brown and Black children, which inevitably translates into adulthood. Through my experiences as a young girl and woman on my journey of empowerment, I have learnt to embrace myself, my skin tone, hair, and my body features. Through research, workshops with children, and collaboration with other artists, this project will materialize as an exhibition and eventually a publication that explores the roles of local and foreign dolls in shaping children’s identity, dreams, and visions."
Excerpted words by Zohra Opoku in conversation with Julia Grosse for Contemporary And.
