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Why Art?

I found out around
age 12 that I had the talent for Art. I used to draw as an eight-year
old but I did not take it seriously until I became a teenager. I then
started paying attention and because I wanted to know more, I decided
to go to school.

Training

I trained at Federal Polytechnic, Auchi, Edo State.

Medium

Colour medium. I
say colour because some people paint oil, some acrylics while others
use mixed media; I just use colour as my medium. When I paint, I want
the audience to see pure and raw colour. That’s how I interpret, that’s
how I speak my language, that’s how I pronounce my subject, using
nothing but colours.

So, I use all the
media – oils, water colour, acrylics, gouache, charcoal, pencil –
everything that an artist can find to make something visual, I use.

Influences

If I go to any
environment, if I see anything, that’s an influence. So, I let my
influence be mobile. People around me, culture, even the traffic,
anything that concerns human beings, that is constantly in motion. The
earth is constantly turning; we can’t feel it because it’s so large. So
I decided to make my inspiration what I observe because it is fresh and
changing every time.

Inspirations

Everyday life.
People, places, culture, new things, old things, things criticised,
things hailed. As long as it is every day and is continuous, it
influences me. As the sun shines in a bright new day, it comes with new
things and as somebody who records events, there is no other way to
take advantage of the times than to capture what is going on right
before your eyes.

Best work so far

I’ve done more than
6,000 paintings and I have images of 4,000 out of the 6,000. I’ve been
documenting, I didn’t start on time so it will be difficult to pick my
best so far. If you ask me for my best topic, I will say my fish series.

Least satisfying work

When I try to do
realism; you can never do anything real. Everything is only as real as
it is. If you try to do it, you are just struggling to get as close.
So, trying to copy realism has been my worst.

Career high point

To be able to teach
what I know to as many people as I can come across. The day I clock the
number, that is as many people as possible, that is the highest point
of my career.

Favourite artist, living or dead

I enjoy the works
of the Auchi School, they all get me going. I enjoy the works of the
Auchi artists because each time I see their work, I always feel there
is something more I need to learn. When something challenges you, it
becomes something you like. I see works of other schools and movements
but when I see works of the Auchi School, I get excited.

Ambition

My ambition is to
help as many people that I come across. If I had two meetings with you
and I’m able to do something that helps you with whatever you have
going on, I’ve done something.