“Art has really, really helped me” – an interview with Jo Aidoo
This October, artist Jo Aidoo returned to the Tavistock Centre with a new exhibition. She previously had a successful solo show here in 2023, and also took part in Tavi Open. Her new exhibition Faces, with African Twist was part of our Black History Month celebration.
Jo was born in Ghana and now lives in London. She has been sewing as a form of expression since around the age of seven. “I have never been to a sewing or an art school. I find relief when I sew. It soothes my anxious mind”, she said.
Her patchworks juxtapose interesting patterns and colours to depict famous Black artists and activists (such as Rihanna, Rosa Parks, Kwame Nkrumah), along with impressions of her family members and striking self-portraits. The collection is complemented by landscapes inspired by her homeland of Ghana.
Maya Angelou and Rosa Parks pictured by Jo Aidoo
Some of the artworks address mental health. Jo’s personal struggles are reflected in the huge piece Mental Health Awareness which pictures various triggers symbolically stacked on top of her head, causing tears of blood to run down her face. Helpful hands surround her, reaching out with support, giving this powerful piece a glimmer of hope.
Multiple Personality Disorder makes a political commentary. Jo refrains from naming the pictured individual – each of his three faces distorted in an evil grimace. Instead, she leaves subtle hints. “Look at his hair, and look at the flag in the background”, she says.
The visitors love the vibrant colours of the fabrics you use! Where do you source them?
Most of them I get from a friend of mine who sews African prints. They’re mostly remnants that he throws away, and which I pick up and reuse. Sometimes I buy them – but only the big pieces. All the small pieces come from my friend’s shop, and I recycle them.
This exhibition starts with your first self-portrait, in which you are depicted as sick and sad. I like that it ends on a positive note with a more recent one, in which you are smiling while looking happy.
The one where I’m smiling is actually based on an old photograph. That’s why the title is Down Memory Lane. I went back in my memory and came back. Some stories keep coming to my head and I need to put them on canvas.
Oh, I see. So, what stories are currently inspiring you? What are you going to work on next?
I want to do something about child abuse. It’s going to have a prominent figure like the Pope, and the devil, and an abused child. When you’re a victim of child abuse, like myself, you live with it for the rest of your life. The abuser gets away with it, but we have it forever.
Are you in a better place now than when you made that first self-portrait?
Yes, I’m better. I’m not considering committing suicide now. My anxiety and psychosis have gone away. I used to cry a lot; now I don’t cry. When I need to talk to somebody, I go to my psychiatrist. Before, I wouldn’t do it. I would just stay indoors and maybe try to finish my life. I haven’t considered that in a very long time, so, the art has really, really helped me.
Visit Jo’s Instagram page.