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Why Art?

Art was one of the
subjects in which I excelled and derived maximum joy right from
childhood. Art was everywhere around me [in] the totality of my
childhood experiences. Music at home, in the church and at school;
storytelling, moonlight performances, communal living, craft traditions
of my people and our general outlook and ways of doing things. All
these, if you put them together, are art. I think I was destined to
become an artist; because I was not the only child raised in the
environment I mentioned but I was the only one who tapped into the
abundant resources to become an artist.

Training

I was fortunate to
attend primary and secondary schools (Methodist Primary School, Ayedun
Ekiti, Christ’s School, Ado Ekiti and Federal Government College
Ilorin) where art was taken seriously and taught. While in the junior
classes I would visit these senior art students who were usually
scattered over the entire beautiful Christ’s School landscape, painting
scenes either for assignments or exams.

Whereas my training
in the arts had been limited to drawing, painting and design, in (the
University of) Benin other areas such as sculpture, ceramics, textile,
performing arts, metal design, materials and methods, art history,
visual aesthetics, art education were added.

Benin was a fine
experience under the tutelage of artists/scholars/administrators such
as S.I. Wangboje, Clarry Nelson Cole, Doris Rogers, Ademola Williams,
Oseha Ajokpaezi, Dr Chris Ebighgbo, Osi Audu, Austine Onwordi etc.

After graduation,
after stints as practising and exhibiting artist, art teacher,
journalist, cultural activist and advocate, I found my way back to
school for a post graduate degree in Visual Art History at the
University of Lagos.

Medium

I work in the areas of painting, drawing, mixed media, and cartooning, curating, writing and cultural advocacy.

Influences

My Yorubaness, and
a whole lot of artists across the globe whose works I have seen and
have appreciated, have influenced me. Artists such as Professors Yusuf
Grillo, Uche Okeke, Kolade Oshinowo, Clarry Nelson Cole, Muraina
Oyelami, Boye Gbenro, Dotun Gboyega, Bayo Odulana, Kunle Filani, Nkiru
Nzegwu etc have all influenced me.

Inspirations

Peaceful mind,
clean environment and the flurry of socio-political happenings
globally. Also, I get inspired by reading, listening to good music and
thinking positively. There is a realm where I believe all artists get
into to receive their ideas. I get intuitive and psychic promptings
from sources I cannot explain but which further confirm that artists
have patron muses.

Best work so far

I have no such work
yet, every work is a unique experience. What you classify as your best
may not be considered so by others. Art does not belong to the artist
only, the artist according to a school of thought is just a vessel used
in communicating society’s collective ethos. The search for my best
work continues.

Least satisfying work

It is also
difficult to say which work is the least satisfying because I have done
numerous works. I have had exhibitions where works grudgingly included
will be the ones to receive the most accolades and may be the earliest
to be bought. I am a perfectionist though, it takes time for me to
append my signature to an art piece, and any one so appended has
fulfilled my requirement of a good art work.

Career high point

My exhibitions are
so far my high points, especially my solo exhibitions. Through them I
render accounts of how well I have spent my time and life. My
exhibitions are usually my happiest moments because they are summations
of my experiences, being, hopes, joy and all. I

Favourite artist living or dead

I particularly
venerate Michelangelo, he was wonderful. So also Leonardo, Raphael and
many other artists of the Renaissance period. Also, P.P Reuben,
Rembrandt, Van Gogh, the Impressionists, post impressionists, Picasso,
Matisse etc. Back home I admire the anonymous traditional artists for
their wonderful legacies. The Onabolus, Lasekans, Enwuonwus,
Onobrakpeyas, Grillos, Oshinowos, Jegedes, Yusufs etc. I owe a lot to
inspirations derived from these artists.

Ambitions

To become a great
artist, one of the greatest of all times who will be remembered long
after I might have gone not just as a painter but one whose
contributions bestride different genres of the art profession.