In Conversation with... Ty-yee-ba

25.03.20 - Words by Jaheed Hussain

We sat down with Ty-yee-ba, a current third-year graphic design student and artist on Fuse, when Ty-yee-ba had just finished second year at Salford University. Read more of Ty's thoughts on networking events, being in the conversation and the journey to get your foot in the door as someone of colour.

Hey! Introduce yourself, who are you? What do you do?

My name is Ty-yee-ba, I'm an artist and illustrator who loves drawing with traditional mediums such as paint, pens and ink.

What's your general opinion of the creative industry?

The art and design industry is very centered around white culture when it comes to networking events/the work space and most studio people you talk to. It's the default way of doing things. Such as networking always having to be centered around alcohol or meet-ups taking place in bars. It straight away alienates and ignores creatives from non-white backgrounds and from different religions who don’t drink, almost as if to say 'there's no place for you here, if you're being the authentic you. Either assimilate or have every door closed in your face'. Which is contradictory to me, because being a creative is being yourself and bringing your personality to your job. This is not a nine to five. Being an artist is not something I do. It's who I am. I want to make a career and build my brand off of me, my thoughts/opinions and the current industry doesn't allow a space for that.

That's an really interesting perspective, have you ever experienced anyone indicating you don't belong here, in creative events - whether that's body language, or verbal communication? If so, how did make you feel?

Oh yeah! I've approached people from studios at networking events and during the conversation, told them about myself and what I talk about and their faces either go blank or turn into this really weird expression and just nod along to what I’m saying, all the while, I know nothing I’m saying is registering with them or they just think 'why is she bringing this up?'. I had a mentor from industry who was a white man, he didn’t understand what appropriation was when I spoke of it in my project, he dismissed it all and advised me to completely start the project from scratch. In the university setting, students whom you share studio space with, pretty much have the same reaction. I have been called controversial and looked at as though I am unnecessarily trying to start a problematic dialogue, because I want to talk about inequality and white privilege. Honestly, the lack of representation and understanding has gotten me down at times. I am a woman, I am non-white, I believe in god, I also talk about things that make a lot of people uncomfortable. And I’m not willing to be quiet. The fact that these topics make some uncomfortable is something they need to address within themselves. Everybody needs to be a part of the conversation to affect change. But I know because of all these intersections of my identity and personality, I am highly likely to have many doors shut in my face in this industry which is hard to think about.

Yeah! A lot of that sounds familiar. There's an obvious lack of comfort for people who aren't of colour. Is there a chance to get them more comfortable or understanding about these issues, do you think? Can you envisage a more understanding Industry in the future?

I've always said, that a marginalised group can sit around all day and talk about the issues they face and what needs to change. For example women can talk all day about gender inequality but men have to be apart of the conversation. The people who look like the oppressor, need to be a part of the conversation with the people who are oppressed in order to affect change. Same with the art and design industry. We need people who aren’t of colour, from industry or Uni, to attend and support and be a part of events. Come along and listen in to what we are saying. Maybe through attending and listening there can be more understanding of the issues we face. Don't take over the conversation, just be a part of the conversation but understand it is a safe space for us to say what we truly feel. Be a part of the journey to change. I feel in order to really see a more inclusive industry it needs to be made clear that everyone from all backgrounds is welcome to come to what we organise so they can hear from our perspective, because it’s almost as if, when the word 'diversity' is used, white creatives will automatically think it's not something that’s important for them to attend.

I think an industry where we, non-white creatives can truly be our authentic selves without being expected to assimilate or filter what we have to say for white comfortability, will truly be an inclusive industry. But I feel it starts from everyone attending these events/talks.

You're right. More people need to be more involved. Well, recently we tried to do something different! You attended diffuse, did you feel like that's the sort of thing that can help? How did it make you feel being a part of it?

Diffuse was amazing, because for the first time I felt I was in a space where i was able to have honest, unfiltered conversations with multiple people, regarding similar things we had experienced, being non-white creatives either in the industry or in the world in general. I was happy I had the opportunity to meet these people. It was very empowering, uplifting and motivating. I was buzzing afterwards. I've had all these ideas for projects I've wanted to do in third year uni and in my career to make a change, and attending diffuse has motivated me further, to really put the work in and support others wanting to do the same. I definitely think more events like that being held will help make a difference and are something we need more of.

That's great to hear - we'll keep pushing stuff like this for everyone. You should definitely go ahead with these projects and touch on what you've mentioned before! What other plans do you have?

Well right now I need to get a module in for an August deadline at University, so I’m just working on that but hopefully once that is out of the way, I think I’m going to carry on with drawing and jotting down the ideas in my head. When September comes, I'll get stuck in third year and make sure that the projects and outcomes I’m doing, are relevant to me in real life and what I want to do career wise - so that it's something that I can carry on with after graduating.

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Image credits: Ty-yee-ba

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