Kemi Iruwa

With a broad world view and a creative perspective that merges with youth and life experiences to produce art and media across a range of formats, TJ Sawyerr is making his way and leaving his stamp wherever he can. The multi-hyphenate creative is using his unique working style as well as his understanding of his inspirations and experiences to bring a meticulous and detailed approach to the industry. He shows resilience in his avoidance of being held back by external pressures and biases against his viewpoints, rather subverting expectation and presenting more efficient styles of operating - improving the quality of media output while evading any losses of meaning or story-telling.

As the new year and the general air of reflectiveness that comes about during such a time go on, there is a thought that continues to be raised and explored among creatives. ‘It is a great time to be young’. In many cases this is wholly untrue, from increasing difficulty in the potential for becoming homeowners to feeling like our societies’ governing bodies are poor representatives of youthful populations, this thought seems somewhat naïve and maybe even misinformed. At the same time, there exists a growing number of young creatives who are using their unique perspectives to produce and contribute to narratives in contemporary and unorthodox ways – sometimes, without the help of more experienced hands. Thus, creating a need for self-sufficiency and resilience in current times.

Empowering and representing oneself as an individual has become increasingly popular especially among young creatives. Isaac Andrews’ (unceasing) story is proof that having the passion to try can build enough momentum to reach the destinations that we envision. Or, just send us down a path that might get us there. For Isaac, art has acted as a light that has pulled him out of times of darkness and he hopes to remind people of the importance of acknowledging this darkness through his own art.