Playing with colour and form, Lagos based artist Olatunji Benjamin creates vibrant pieces of distorted realities through his experimentation of figure. Àṣẹ spoke to him about his weaknesses as an artists and the way his Nigerian heritage shapes the work he creates.
Outside of being an artist, I would say I am a person who enjoys helping in ways I can guide people into into a journey of spiritual enlightenment. Having this worldview helps me see humans differently which definitely influences my work.
I look forward to experiencing the transformative process of my work and the feeling of satisfaction once a piece is finished.
I'm inspired by Omofemi Oluwole.
(Omofemi Oluwole is an Ibadan based artist and curator recently highly recognised for producing the last commissioned piece for the late Queen Elizabeth II. His pieces are vibrant and bold exploring themes of cultural pride and heritage.)
My greatest weakness as an artist is the fear of the unknown.
My greatest strength as an artist is my ability to understand and pay attention to detail.
Yes I do have many pieces like that. Pieces like 'As beautiful baby bird', 'Woman from the Seven Seas' to name a few.
The accomplishment I'm most proud of as an artist is how I've moved into a space/existence which grounds itself in the liberty of creation.
I want the world to recognise my visual expression and understand the essence of it.
The history of gang membership and its relationship with black communities globally (particularly in western society) is something that is complex and treacherous in explanation. The amount of nuance and necessary context in explaining this odyssey is something that I as the writer of this article is not equipped to do nor educated enough to do,...
Gospel music through time has transcended its role as something purely belonging to the Christian church, positioning itself as a way of consolation that can be mutually felt throughout the diaspora. Pre colonial gospel sounds blended spirituality, storytelling and indigenous rhythms first found in the African continent as early as the 1st century,...
Art in all its forms has housed the cultures of the world for centuries. For as long as civilization has existed symbols and drawings have been used to share the authentic and vital messages of the world. Take centuries old West African art such as the Benin heads- or the example of the symbolism used and still seen to decorate...
A stunning evening filled with light and creativity, thank you for coming to Sound & Colour!
