Above: "THEM THAT WAS US" (2007)
Jacobson's interest in African mythology, symbolism and legend stems from the memories of her formative and teenage years on a Zimbabwean tobacco farm, her English heritage (within the family home) and the influences of the African lifestyle, language, beliefs and music (outside the family home). The impact of these rich and varied influences have been compounded by memory, loss and homesickness, particularly after she emigrated from Africa to U.K. It was at this point, in 2007, when Jacobson began to paint. The image shown above was her first.
Jacobson sees herself as an artist using African imagery with its strong influences to inspire her, while also drawing from her parents British/colonial background. The severity of Zimbabwe's economic deterioration and all the possible reasons for this demise has added further layers to Jacobson's work. Images intimating political events, dictatorship, corruption and violence which have lead to severe the poverty of a country once known as the "Breadbasket of Africa" could still have Jacobson jailed if she were to return to the country.
The mediums of oil, egg tempera and acrylic allow for the bright sunny colours found in most of Jacobson's work, inviting the viewer to further explore the deeper meaning. Jacobson has recently gained a Fine Arts (Hons) degree from the Norwich University of the Arts and added sculptural installations and print to her repertoire.
"Many observers still define artists from Africa by their skin colour and consider African artists to be black. Black or white should not be an issue up for debate. "I believe I am an artist from Africa and hope that the colour of my skin will not define me as being anything other than an artist from Africa".
Jacobson sees herself as an artist using African imagery with its strong influences to inspire her, while also drawing from her parents British/colonial background. The severity of Zimbabwe's economic deterioration and all the possible reasons for this demise has added further layers to Jacobson's work. Images intimating political events, dictatorship, corruption and violence which have lead to severe the poverty of a country once known as the "Breadbasket of Africa" could still have Jacobson jailed if she were to return to the country.
The mediums of oil, egg tempera and acrylic allow for the bright sunny colours found in most of Jacobson's work, inviting the viewer to further explore the deeper meaning. Jacobson has recently gained a Fine Arts (Hons) degree from the Norwich University of the Arts and added sculptural installations and print to her repertoire.
"Many observers still define artists from Africa by their skin colour and consider African artists to be black. Black or white should not be an issue up for debate. "I believe I am an artist from Africa and hope that the colour of my skin will not define me as being anything other than an artist from Africa".
All images are copyrighted © by Jocelyn Jacobson. The use of any image from this site is prohibited unless prior written permission from the artist is obtained.
