Jacqueline Suowari Is The Artist Inspiring People To Be Themselves

Ready. Set. Wear Yourself”.

Ever wondered just how free we would all feel if we decided to show up as our most authentic selves? How unburdened would we be if we decided to unmask and wear our true personas? From the time, Nigeria’s pioneering ball-point pen artist and social activist, Jacqueline Suowari has leveraged her works to examine the concept of self. Her larger than life masterpieces is a symbolic culmination of thousands of tiny strokes of the pen. Starting from the early age of 5, Jacqueline has always been fascinated by the human experience and over the years has used her art as a tool to explore identity and subliminal human emotional responses.

Now 31, Jacqueline’s fascination still thrives – expectedly so, seeing that her country (Nigeria) and the world at large is currently witnessing something of a revolution against unending stereotypes “The concept of self is one topic that will continue to awe and inspire the human race. How does one wear themselves?”

Over the course of her 11-year career, Jacqueline has had the privilege of sharing her interpretations of identity and stereotypes on the global stage through group participation and exhibitions. Hot off her 2020 solo exhibition at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts in Miami, Jacqueline launched her 1st ever solo exhibition in Nigeria, held in the country’s capital – Abuja in June 2021, which features her most talked about body of work till date – “Now I Wear Myself”. An offering that stretches beyond the ballpoint pen, accompanied by other visual art mediums such as poetry and performance.

In “Now I Wear Myself”, Jacqueline reveals society as the major catalyst of self-masking as well as destigmatizes taboo topics while addressing classification based on one’s looks or possessions. “Humans have skillfully perfected the art of masking their true selves as a way of survival, constantly adapting to suit societal patterns and expectations. How long can we continue to cave into society’s yardstick for wrong or right? Why should wearing bright colours, tattoos, piercings, braided hair, fully grown beards, beautifully worn dreadlocks or even sharing mental health struggles be seen as taboo?”

With her vast portraits, Jacqueline depicts a representation of the faceless, voiceless masses, holding a message of hope and empowerment with the intention of nudging Nigerians to embrace vulnerabilities.

“The Nigerian system kind of bullies you into shape but I believe that everybody was created with a particular blueprint. It’s like a puzzle — you’re supposed to be a certain kind of way to fit into the puzzle for better things to happen”.

For Jacqueline, the key message is “Don’t settle, don’t disguise and if there are curiosities in the face of difference, tell them NOW I WEAR MYSELF.”