ARTIST
ARTIST
"The ability to manipulate one's gaze in the face of structures of domination that would contain it, opens up the possibility of agency."
-bell hooks
Tinuade is particularly fascinated by the interplay between the fetishization of the female form, as described by Laura Mulvey’s, “Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema”, and the concept of "the Black gaze" outlined by hooks, with insights from Donna Haraway, an influential essayist who wrote, "The Cyborg Manifesto”. Tinuade’s moves beyond the limiting binary structures of their current cultural landscape to challenge race within the intersectionality of gender. Aimed at creating a new vocabulary within post-feminism, Tinuade focuses their efforts through symbolism. Through their art, they seek to provoke deeper questions about the nature of identity, agency, and power dynamics, exploring the ways in which visibility can be both empowering and limiting.
Reclaiming the black body as subject, Tinuade confronts the tropes, prejudices, and fetishization, forcing the viewer to face this discomfort within the framework of art.
BIO
Tinuade Oyelowo is a visionary multidisciplinary artist whose creative endeavors are deeply rooted in addressing social justice issues related to race, gender, sizeism through an afro-futurist lens. Tinuade holds a B.F.A in Theatre with an emphasis in Original Works from Cornish College of the Arts and an M.F.A from Brooklyn College's PIMA 13 Graduate Program.
Throughout her career, Tinuade's work has been showcased in various prestigious galleries and spaces, such as Trestle Gallery, Clemente Soto Vélez Gallery, and Art@Renaissance Gallery, among others. She has also been recognized as an Artist in Residence at the Wassaic Project and has participated in public discussions on race and gender at Impact Hub NYC. Her journey includes collaborations with esteemed repertory companies like Court Theater, Silk Road Theater Project, and Seattle Repertory Company, showcasing her diverse artistic talents.At present, Tinuade seamlessly weaves her theatrical and performance art background with her passionate dedication to visual art and installation work.
In August 2022, she completed a residency at FiveMyles Gallery, which culminated in a captivating interactive installation. Her artistic journey continues to inspire and challenge, shedding light on crucial societal issues through her powerful creations.
As an educator, Tinuade has contributed to the artistic growth of others, working with institutions like the Lower East Side Tenement Museum and Adelphi University. Moreover, her business involvements have further expanded her impact, collaborating with Leroy Street Studio and Architecture and Grand Street Settlement in 2020’s Public Arts project in the Lower East Side.
Sources:
"The ability to manipulate one's gaze in the face of structures of domination that would contain it, opens up the possibility of agency." is from the book "Black Looks: Race and Representation" written by bell hooks (pen name of Gloria Jean Watkins), an influential feminist author, cultural critic, and social activist. The book was first published in 1992 and addresses issues of race, representation, and power dynamics in various contexts, including media, art, and everyday life.
Laura Mulvey, a British film theorist, introduced the concept of the "male gaze" and discussed the fetishization of the female form in her influential essay "Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema," published in 1975.
The "Cyborg Manifesto" was written by Donna Haraway and was first published in 1985. It is a key text in feminist theory, posthumanism, and the study of technology and identity. You can find the full text of the "Cyborg Manifesto" in Donna Haraway's book "Simians, Cyborgs, and Women: The Reinvention of Nature," published in 1991.