Is identity, who we feel we are, or is it how people can identify us? Is identity a personal  thing or is it the labels and stereotypes and categories we have to fit in?

When creating art or theatre, do we make a conscious decision to how much of our “personality” we want to ooze out of the piece created? Or do we just make and analyze later and identify traits of ourselves in the work?

 Recently I have started to consider the honesty of the work I create and came the conclusion, that the piece will only truly reflect honesty if it reflects my identity. However, because I’m  not completely sure what my identity is, the fear overwhelms me that if I make work that reflects my identity or what I believe  my identity to be, based on others perceptions; I could stifle the potential of my work.

For example, one could argue  my identity is that of a black girl from Brixton, which to an extent is true. Although these facts can help one identify who I am, I cannot not  say these descriptions foretell or define  who I am.  Would it be right to say that because I’m a black girl from Brixton, that should be the core of all my work? Surely it will make the sphere of my creations limited and the same. But  is straying away from what my identity appears to be a way of denying what I am and seeing the world through false eyes?

So in this complexed state of mind, I realize that MY identity has permission to change or evolve and does not have  to be bound by peoples expectations or ideas of who I am and the work I should produce. I should create work  inspired by elements of me that have been inspired by the things around me or things I feel are important.

If you ever feel pressured to create work that does not reflect your views or  represent you in anyway I’d suggest that you question why you are making this pieces of work or it will be very hard to support it whole heartedly.
Lastly I’d say our identity should not be created by other people, your identity should be fuel to your creativity and vice versa.

This post was written by Margaret Bakosi; Community Outreach Liaison/Fashion and Music Liaison.

Can you identify? Do you feel marginalized or misunderstood? We want everyone to identify with some part of AF2010. We also enjoy the unidentifiable. If you sometimes feel like a Red Square trying to fit through a blue triangle-shaped hole, then come to AF2010. We have rainbow-squishy walls allowing any shape through our doors.