About the Artist

My Approach to Art

To me, art is like a mirror that we do not just hold up to ourselves, but also up to society to see itself. When people stand in front of a mirror, they naturally try to behave decently. In the same way, I see art as a tool that can condition society to become better. For me, art is therefore not simply about fun or self-expression; it can be a tool for social engineering.

I believe art is everywhere. Art can be anything, and everyone has the ability to create and enjoy art when given the opportunity to experience it. Through sculpture and other techniques of visual expression, I explore forms and materials while interrogating social, environmental and cultural issues, as well as topical issues, personal ideologies, conventions and unresolved questions.

I believe there are people who share some of the thoughts and ideas expressed in my work, people who may be hoping to find others with similar perspectives. Through art, I can reach such people, even when they are far away. I also believe that art can uplift people and make them feel better, even when they are going through moments that are not necessarily the best.

Material Exploration

I am particularly interested in materials and techniques that are not commonly used, especially materials that we encounter in our everyday lives. I have consistently explored everyday materials that are rarely seen being used for art production, visualizing what these materials might look like when transformed into unconventional forms. This naturally leads me into engaging with materials and experimenting with them.

For me, material exploration is also a way of bringing out the intrinsic value of materials, many of which would otherwise be discarded. I do not see materials merely as tools or objects. I see them as objects of conversation.

There is therefore a three-way communication between the artist, the material and the audience. Through the forms I create, I hope the audience can engage with and listen to what the materials themselves are saying.

My Sculpture Practice

My sculptural practice has two major sides. The first is my personal sculptural affinity for materials such as plastics, living plants, discarded objects, found objects and found metal scraps. I often bring these materials together to create mixed-media forms.

The second involves commissioned works. I take commissions, working mostly with materials such as fiberglass, concrete and bronze. I have undertaken public art commissions in different parts of Nigeria, many of them monumental in scale. This aspect of my practice provides an important source of income that supports my personal exploration and experimentation.

Art Education

Beyond my studio practice, I am deeply involved in art education. I believe that art is a skill that can be learned and that creative ability is a skill that can be developed, rather than something that is entirely dependent on talent or being born with a particular gift. If art were entirely a gift, then everyone would be born with it.

I believe that everyone has the ability to create art when they are given the opportunity to fine-tune their inborn creative abilities. I teach students and young artists both formally and informally. Through teaching, I introduce students to the principles and elements of design while encouraging them to interrogate materials and the issues around them in society.

I encourage students to assert themselves and their positions within the wider society, to contribute to conversations about human and social development, and to play active roles in shaping their communities. I also believe that creativity can be applied to every area of life and can become a means through which people can earn a living.

Teaching and Practice

In my teaching practice, I teach areas including still-life drawing, figure drawing and figure composition. I teach students how to sketch, how to develop confidence in drawing, and how to capture the movement and essence of objects and figures without wasting time trying to reproduce every detail.

I encourage students to develop their observational and representational abilities and to produce drawings that demonstrate the confidence and quality associated with the works of masters. I also teach armature construction, life-size figure modelling and monumental sculpture to student specialists in sculpture. Through teaching and workshops, I encourage students and emerging artists to develop their creative abilities and voices, assert themselves and produce original work rather than simply copying existing art.

Art as Social Engineering

Ultimately, I believe that art can be a powerful tool for social engineering. It can make us question ourselves, question our environment and question the conventions we have accepted. It can create conversations between people, materials and ideas. It can educate, challenge, uplift and inspire. And through both my artistic practice and my work as an educator, I continue to explore how art can contribute to the development of individuals and society.