Kuumba Artist Feature: Yasin Osman
Harbourfront Centre’s Kuumba festival is spotlighting a different Black artist each day of February. Today we’re sharing the story of Yasin Osman.
As Yasin flew into Somalia, all he could think about was Lido beach, which his mother used to tell him stories about. He was going to his parents’ homeland, which he hadn’t visited as a child, and wasn’t sure what to expect. When he arrived, though, he saw boys playing soccer, children dancing and mothers teaching their daughters how to swim. It was more beautiful than he had expected. Lit with new perspective, he began to work on a photo series, eventually titled Dear Ayeeyo, which would become famous for its humane, multifaceted portrayal of Somalia. When he first exhibited the series, 1,000 people came to the premiere, bringing together Toronto’s East African community.
Yasin’s work habitually uplifts people. As a photographer, his reputation exploded through his #ShootForPeace project, which spawned a viral hashtag. The concept behind the project was simple: give kids something to do to keep them away from gangs. Growing up in Toronto’s Regent Park, he didn’t know people dying from cancer. He knew kids dying from gun violence. In his neighbourhood, younger kids began asking him about photography, their curiosity piqued by his Instagram. He took on 12 of them, between the ages of eight and 16, and took them on an improvised workshop. They wanted to shoot everything, especially the CN tower. Since then, the program has provided over 100 youth with jobs, cameras and valuable skills.
It was through his #ShootForPeace project that Yasin was able to travel to Somalia, being sponsored by Love Army for Somalia to bring the mentorship program there. Whether abroad or in Canada, each new pupil rejuvenates him. Yasin adds, “Everyday, I fall back in love with photography when I teach it. I get to witness the eagerness of a new artist and the look on their faces when they’re excited about their work. I get to see love for art in the faces of these kids and that’s something that inspires me.” His love of mentorship is a reflection of his personality, which has been noted for its warmth and openness.
Yasin is largely self-taught, first exploring photography using his mom’s cell phone before eventually picking up a DSLR after high school. His mother always told him that his potential was limitless, and she worked tirelessly to support the family, splitting her time between two jobs and school. She had come from Somalia without knowing English, and raised Yasin by herself. He credits her with pushing him to be the person he is today, and considers her his hero. His grandmother, too, plays a major role in his work and life. She told him that as long as he plans on helping others, then he would have her blessing. “I realized that I’m now fulfilling my grandmother’s promise,” he concludes. Dear Ayeeyo is dedicated to her.
Yasin Osman is an acclaimed photographer who, while originally from Toronto, currently resides in New York City. He has worked with organizations such as UNICEF, McLean’s and VICE. In addition to photography, Yasin works as a cartoonist for The New Yorker. You can find his work on his Instagram and Twitter (@yescene) and website (www.yescene.com).
