In this episode, I speak with Amstamdam-based Esiri Erheriene-Essi who is a figurative painter with a focus on highlighting history and who shares her interest in collecting and creating an archive through her work as a way of questioning narratives.  She paints from a wide collection of photographs, predominantly from the 1960s and 70s – sourced online, at flea markets, and from her family archives. In this episode, we also talk about:  Her interest in illustrating how the relationship between history and the present is in a state of constant transformation.Her cinematic style of painting Drawing inspiration from archival images as source material for her paintingsHaving something you love to do as a way of staying centered and believing in it even when others do not Learning to try, having fun, and making play essential as an artist You can connect with Esiri at https://www.instagram.com/esiri.essi/