Artist Jacqui Ogolla turns recycled DVDs into surreal works of self-discovery

Jacqui Ogolla’s latest mixed-media series titled Go Where It’s Warm uses small recycled DVDs as canvases featuring expressive portraits and dreamlike nature scenes.

Ogolla uses vibrant colours and surrealism; she depicts human figures and animals in introspective states to communicate experiences that are difficult to express in words.

She explains that she uses recycled DVDs as painting surfaces because when she first painted the discs between 2019 and 2021, she always felt the works were unfinished.

“I originally chose DVDs because I loved upcycling, and their small size made them ideal for experimenting as a beginner. The paintings fit so well on them, and the discs offer an interesting backdrop to the work,” she says.

The Go Where It’s Warm series was inspired by her desire to explore uncertainty with curiosity.

It was her way of dealing with the experience of a transition point, when values and interests change. She wanted to see what felt warm; therefore, she created many different ideal scenarios and possibilities to discover what felt right.

The series, she adds, is a reminder to follow what feels most authentic when making decisions.

“It's about following what lights you up when faced with a decision. It's a reminder to keep checking in with yourself because the answer keeps changing,” she says. 

Her use of vivid colours and expressive portraits portrays the themes of warmth, vitality, and personal connection.

She explains that painting on DVDs is more practical than working on traditional canvases since they don’t need stretching and priming.

Working on a single body of work over an extended period of time made her explore one topic deeply. She thinks the work will now be more cohesive and more meaningful. One of the pieces, The Traveller, is about always moving and being on a journey.

Her vibrant, accessible style has been exhibited in Nairobi, and she has also participated in several artist residencies.

“People feel connected to something specific, even if they can't explain it. Whoever the work is for will feel it and see themselves in it,” she expresses.

Together with Go Where It's Warm, she has recently released an adult colouring book. She describes it as a creative side quest after spending a long time immersed in the same project.

She sees the book as another way of connecting with audiences, having already hosted a colouring event where participants completed illustrations together.

“I hope to do more of these. Trying new artistic projects is inspiring and energising. All the different parts of my practice connect and feed each other,” she says.

She hopes that people experience the joy and satisfaction of creating an artwork, have a chance to relax and perhaps feel inspired to start making art themselves or continue if they had stopped. The colouring book is designed to provide creativity and relaxation.

Ogolla says that she created the book with nature lovers, aspiring artists and people looking for more wholesome ways to spend their leisure time in mind. Unlike her paintings, the illustrations were intentionally simplified to create a more engaging colouring experience.

“I changed my style a bit and made it simpler, more cartoon-like, with more shapes inserted to create variety while colouring. The main focus was on the user’s experience as opposed to paintings. What I wanted to say,” she says.

While the colouring book showcases themes found in Go Where It's Warm, it delves into rest and nature. Creativity, she says, is important as an outlet. She hopes that viewers will recognise parts of themselves in the works.

“If people connect with a specific piece, it's because something in it is important to them,” she says.