Josie #mixedmonday
I go by the name of Josephine Gyasi. I am a multidisciplinary artist, activist and like to express myself by writing, music making and movement. I am a freelance creative producer, design consultant and community engagement coordinator, facilitator. I am also a proud mother of @abena.care - which is a natural skincare business I have been slowly developing, inspired by a love for DIY skincare and the endless great properties of natural ingredients derived from West Africa.
I have a background in Product Design, and spent 4 years studying at UWE which culminated in winning an award for my final year show and exhibiting at New Designers! Since then, I have been developing my career around community and I am really interested in user experience which has led me to work in various areas from managing club night events, spaces, to producing research projects, co-curating meaningful workshops, public speaking, upskilling local communities and many other wonderful things. In 2020, I embarked on an R&D journey into radical care and pleasure activism (with Roseanna Dias and Knowle West Media Centre) which has had a huge influence on my practice and the learning is still ongoing.
My personality type is ENFP (Extraverted, Intuitive, Feeling and Perceiving). I am full blown Libra and scorpio rising. My closest people would agree that I am energetic, passionate, enthusiastic, honest - courageous, emotional, loving and sensitive. I have ADHD tendencies and experience complex PTSD symptoms which makes everyday different. I love being active by practicing yoga and cycling is my main mode of transport. I also love plants, nature, flowers and being outdoors. Since I was a teenager, to this day, people say they hear my laugh before they see me!
My childhood was challenging. I was born in North London, moved around alot and settled in Hertfordshire where I was fostered at 13. I am one of 7 and the first of my siblings in the UK to reach university. The past year has been pivotal to my healing from past trauma and reconnection to estranged family members.
How would you describe your ethnicity?
I identify as a brown woman. I identify as mixed race. My heritage is a mix of Ghanaian and English /Irish scottish. I am also a descendant of gypsy irish traveller!
Has your mixed-ness influenced your career in any way?
Yes and No. My identity has influenced my passion for social and racial justice and that is a theme throughout my work and trajectory. After my graduate degree rather than going into design, I went straight into working at UWE to develop a race equality initiative, based on my experience being the only brown girl on my course and wanting something more supportive in place for others like me. Starting @abena.careis influenced by natural ingredients derived from Ghana.
Although, the more I grow into my creative practice I understand that my work is and always has been way more than just my ‘race’. On a human level, I am naturally curious, empathetic and strive to create and open up opportunities for marginalised groups of people, and this passion is more based on my personal experience growing up which has less to do with my race, and more to do with societal issues, class and cycles of trauma.
So in short, I think my career is influenced by the multifaceted me.
If you could describe your mixed identity in one word, what would it be?
Adventurous.
What is the best thing about being mixed heritage?
Interesting question. This has taken a lot of thought. To name a few… it’s got to be the discovery and honour of having and knowing how to cook the best cuisines (I really have mastered jollof rice), having more cousins in Ghana than I do pairs of shoes, getting the random silent nod or smile from other black people on the street, having hair that’s so versatile one day I can be 70s diana ross - the next I am coileray, sharing a collective spiritual connection with brown women. Having a sense of purpose to learn and connect more to myself, my history and my roots. The list goes on.
