0: Africa : Nigeria : Lagos / UK : London in Lockdown 05 / 04 / 2020

UK Lockdown : 05 / 04 / 2020

While I didn't really catch any art on my visit to Lagos and Abuja in 2001/2, surfing the internet in UK lockdown 2020, I've found some interesting finds. I started my search on street art and found Eko Tag, a community putting up monuments around Lagos most recently they have worked with the artist Osa Seven, working on his mural at Ozumba Mbadiwe  as part of the Lagos@50 celebration. 

'In constant pursuit to change the African narrative towards street art and Art in Public Space.' Osa Seven 

To see more of Osa's work visit his insta here. 

Osa Seven 

Osa Seven Mural at Ozuma Mbadiwe 

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Laolu Senbanjo

Another artist whose work I found and love is Laolu Senbanjo. He gave up his job as a human- rights lawyer in Nigeria to move to New York in 2013 to follow his dream of being an artist. He was a struggling immigrant artist - and then Beyonce called. His work is detailed, tribal , urban and political while using everything as his canvas. For more visit Laolu's insta here. 

Read Laolu Senbanjo Cosmopolitan interview here. 

@cosmopolitan share his story my story

Read Laolu Senbanjo Cosmopolitan interview here. 

Amerikkka is to guns as Mary is to Jesus. 

He says: 

It’s easier to ban books in America than it is to ban guns. 

In America there are 89 guns for every 100 people. 

More than 36,000 Americans were victims of firearm-related deaths in 2015. 

Gun-related deaths are now the third leading cause of death of American children. 

Every day, 7 children are killed and 12 more are injured with a gun. 

In 2018 calendar year we've seen 307 mass shootings. 

The 2nd Amendment gives American citizens the right to bear arms. However, is this really necessary? Are we at war? Yes, we are. We are at war with gun violence. How many more Mothers have to lose their children before the constitution changes?

As an Artist I cannot be silent. Your silence means acquiescence. Be the voice for those who don't have one . Education shouldn't mean sacrificing your child.

“African art is not just what you buy at Harlem market in New York, every piece of art you see has a story, and every artist has a name.”

-Laolu Senbanjo “Africa” 

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Marcellina Oseghale Akpojotor

An amazing Nigerian women, is the artist  Marcellina Akpojotor  who has just recently exhibited @relegallery Young Contemporaries Alumni . Her technique is beautifully delicate, her figures are created from collaged pieces of vibrantly coloured and patterned Ankara fabric manipulated and mixed together to create her figures . Her subject matter is often of family and friends while capturing intimate moments, reflecting society around her.

Visit here to see more of Marcella's art work. 

Closing the gap

Kesiena's Diary by Marcellina Akpojotor 

"Trust the process as it is certain to birth new discoveries."

All in the detail

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Chris Ofili.

Chris Ofili is a British born Turner Prize (1998) winning artist with Nigerian parents. He is best known for incorporating elephant dung within his paintings and was one of the Young British Artists. He has worked and lived between London and Brooklyn but since 2005 he's resides in Trinidad. 

My favourite examples of Chris Ofili's artwork are on a previous post. 

To see a previous post of Chris Ofili's Upper room at the Victoria Miro Gallery 2002, follow this link

The most current and poignant artwork I can find of his today is his 2020 official poster for the Tokyo Olympics, 'The Games People Play', depicting two figures merging into each other. I've also included his 2012 poster for the London Olympics , 'For the Unknown Runner'.

Question is will the Olympics go ahead? 

Will the go ahead with closed doors?

Today, nobody knows what will happen.  

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Yinka Shonibare

Yinka Shonibare a British - Nigerian artist, born in London moving to Lagos aged 3 and then back to the UK to study, and later become a Royal Acadamian. His artwork explores cultural identity, colonialism and post-colonialism within the context of globalisation. His work is mostly recognised by his use of brightly coloured Ankara fabric also known as Holland or Dutch wax fabric. The fabric was originally made in Holland for the textile market but became primarily recognised to be associated with Africa because of it's tribal like patterns and motifs. Yinka Shonibare's use of the fabric enhances his political commentary on the relationships between Africa and Europe, of their economical and political histories. 

Yinka Shonibare

Cake Man II, 2014: Photo: Stephen White

‘I see what’s happening as an African renaissance’ - Yinka Shonibare

How to Blow Up Two Heads at Once (Ladies), 2006 :  Yinka Shonibare   Photo: Stephen White

Yinka Shonibare : Guest Artists Space Foundation : GAS

While searching for more on Yinka I found his foundation that he has recently set up called, 

The Guest Artist's Space Foundation / GAS.

In the magazine the The Face, Yinka Shonibare says: 

“[Guest Artists Space Foundation] won’t just contribute to the Nigerian art scene, it will contribute to the British art scene and the American art scene too.”

Continuing on his instagram: There is a new wave of artistic philanthropy models in Africa, wherecelebrated artists wish to ‘give back’ and to support artists from the continent. 

Yinka Shonibare has launched the development of his new artist residency @gasfoundation, that is dedicated to facilitate international artistic and cultural exchange and developing creative practices. Additionally, @shonibarestudio has created the private Ecology Green Farm in a rural town outside of Lagos. This farm supports the local ecosystem, by contributing to food security, creating jobs and boosting the local economy. “Shonibare is aware of and sympathetic to the challenges faced by artists everywhere (especially on the African continent) on their journey to recognition and success, and his initiative will have enormous impact on the future of the African art scene.”

I'm so excited to have found this, it truly is a fantastic project connecting art for a great cause worldwide. In connecting and sharing cultural differences and knowledge and cultural identities and experiences  art becomes the foundation of communication  Beyond Isolation  I hope to see this grow, strength to strength. I'll return in the future for an update, meanwhile check out the links after the photos. 

Take a look at these links, they are well worth a visit. 

The Yinka Shonibare Foundation, web link 

Yank Shonibare Studio : Instagram link 

GAS Foundation / Guest Artists Space Foundation : Instagram link 

THE FACE :Art & vegetables in Lagos with Yinka Shonibare, interview here.

0: Africa : Lagos 04 / 05 / 2001, Abuja 20 / 04 / 2002, 03 / 08 /2002

Nigeria : Lagos : 04/ 05/ 2001

At last I've moved on from the UK but we are still on the same time zone of GMT.

I have never experienced such chaos, in the pouring rain with mud everywhere. I could imagine a mud slide or some sort of horrific traffic accident any moment, but luckily it never happened. We try to get across a roundabout, which is usually a couple of cars deep, but today it seems to have doubled as 4 or 5 cars deep struggle across the grass verge, like ants finding their ways the road disappears. In between the cars people are hustling trying their luck at selling anything they can, most of which appears delicately presented on a large tray, carefully balanced perfectly, effortless on each head. Strangely the rain doesn't seem to make any difference; there are eggs which could have been fresh or hard boiled ready to eat, little deserts and sumptuous looking and smelling fruit, a real feast,  all ready and available at a bargain price.

The following day I was relieved to see the sunshine, I couldn't imagine there was much to do otherwise. The pool was nice and relaxing, that is when you are able to shut out the cry of the squeaking black ravens that seem to be competing against screaming kids. The lizard   gecko creatures are brightly coloured about the length of a foot, they bob their heads up and down, similar to the tacky noddy headed dogs occasionally seen on the dashboard or back of a car. They are top entertainment, each a character to their own, they either jig like they are rapping or are totally chilled out, horizontal and smooth. I think their favourite past time is sunbathing, or maybe they are just making fun of us.

The disadvantages of being in Lagos (It takes first place in the dreaded crew list of not wanting to go to) aren't as bad as I had expected after hearing nothing but complaints. So without much to do I thought I'd summarise my experience.

The initial flight - the journey to get there is exhausting. Strangely the flights to Lagos are extremely lucrative, by the end of the flight almost every item has gone, leaving the bar and dusty free trolleys bare. At the hotel the electrics definitely have a mind of its own, buzzing away where you can almost imagine someone is winding an ancient key. On a regular basis the electrics usually cut out, to which you have to wait any specific amount of time, sometimes it's an hour, but usually it's something between a couple, to twenty minutes until the full force of the generators kick in and take over. The worst time this happens is while having a shower. It's awkward in the dark and pretty uncomfortable when the water goes from luke warm to ice cold. Then there is water, which runs a muddy brown. The food was dull and the rooms felt damp and mouldy as the sheets were wet as if they had just been rung out.

All these issues were nothing, just niggles as my worst complaints had to be for the mosquitoes. I think the damp bed was at an ideal temperature to create a perfect breading ground. It was of no help getting so many bites, I counted 53 bites on one leg and 62 on the other with a few extras scattered about my body, to say the least the mosquitoes had a jolly good feast on me. These strains of insect have obviously got the better of human technology, as I'm sure the aid of a repellent stick and spray did the opposite to it's claim working like a magnet to attract as many bugs as possible. The old wives tale didn't work either, as I ate almost a whole pot of marmite. The problem with the mosquito bites were not so much the itching or irritation, but more as a trigger racing my mind into panic. I became a bundle of nerves, due to the potential malaria risks. The strength of the imagination in certain situations can diffuse the boundaries of real and unreal. My mind raced wild, I somehow believed that I had caught malaria and started to experience phantom symptoms due to my over worked imagination and anxiety. I felt nauseous, dizzy and had the shakes. Of course I was very relieved that I hadn't caught malaria after all, all the same I was hoping that I wouldn't be returning anytime soon.

Nigeria : Abuja 20/04/2002

Abuja is considered the financial or 'new' capital of Lagos and on the way to the hotel you could see the beginning of new big developments rising, the largest looking like an impressive, large stadium. At the hotel the back-drop view is of a large mound, reminding me of Table Mountain in Cape Town, but this was in miniature and not so flat on top. I hate to admit but after Lagos I wasn't expecting much, mostly worried about getting bitten and not wanting to become so paranoid again. As for the food, I was pleasantly surprised. Everything seemed quite nice, it felt like a well kept secret, more like a mini break holiday than work. The weather was lovely, very hot at a good 40 degrees and once again you meet the cute gecko type lizards that bob their heads up and down to their imaginary beat, while scurrying under your feet in the hope of catching some food.

The hotel was kitted out in a time warp taking you back to the glamour of a seventies nightclub. I was on the brown floor, I heard that others were on green, turquoise or orange floors, which was indicated in the carpets, room decor and bathroom suits. Large diagonal stripes lead me to a bathroom in grades of beige to dark chocolate brown. Above there's a mirrored panelling tinted in rich gold. A little tacky, like you might find in a cruise ship's cabaret or casino.

photo credit:  tour2nigeria 

Unfortunately I didn't take the opportunity to do much exploring, I got as far as the local craft market outside the hotel. The market composed of eight little huts which opened into a circular room where items were sold. Mostly there was carvings made from wood or soapstone as well as chessboard sets and the sculptures and a bit of chintz. Inside were rows ands rows of items to sell, all coated with an inch or so of dust that had accumulated throughout the years. Hidden away I was delighted to have found myself an authentic - old mask, calved with an almond face set into a soft heart (As above) With a raindrop on her forehead I wonder if she is Oshun, the Mother of the African sweet or fresh waters. Osun is the Goddess of Love and is widely beloved.

That evening was like being on holiday except you were with people you had never met, taking the place of place of family and friends. We sat by the pool bar drinking pinacoladas. One crew member held up a statue he was told was the God of Thunder, liking the thought he bought it as a souvenir and worshipped it in mockery. I'm sure that was why an electrical tropical storm appeared out of nowhere. There was tremendously load thunder and electric fork-lightening that brightened up the dark sky, while the rain had the same force as a power shower. As long as I wasn't getting wet I really loved it, it was so atmospheric, it felt like we were living inside a nostalgic film. (Albeit an Agatha Christie, Murder Mystery) We had a great dinner, a Mongolian on the restaurant balcony where we concocted all sorts.

Nigeria : Abuja : 3/08/2002

Well what can I say, not quite the same type of place when you are stuck for four days solid in the pouring rain. I was quite lucky as I had brought some painting to do. A flow of waves which was waiting for a top layer, a tedious effort of detail in tooth picked dots, merging mixed tones of aquamarine, turquoise and green. It felt amazing as my 'suite', or shell of a room was formica deep turquoise , so every colour matched and blended in - not necessarily in a way that I liked though. With little to do I spent my time painting and watching Discovery Channel on loop, not too bad but I was missing the expected sun. Other crew were less fortunate, Michelle being the least as she was welcomed by twelve cockroaches, on, in and surrounding her bed, only to be told sorry there are no other rooms available, yikes! Room service was another waste of time and effort, I was fortunate, Jayne was not, it took 2 and a half hours to get what she finally ordered, third call lucky. It's expensive here too, £3 for a Diet Coke. The Mongolian buffet was not quite as effective this time round with 15 of us all at the same time, not really worth the bother. But the evening ended well with a live band singing all the old diva classics to which we all sang and danced along to. 

0: England : A New World in Lockdown for Covid 19

Wonderlust - Unsaturated : ~ Emma Hill 2020

Wow, now we truly are living in crazy times of uncertainty and fear in lockdown due to the virus Covid 19. In the Uk we are a week and a half into our lock down, at home in isolation. Many people are sick and many are dying, I'm not going further into this as there is enough in the media and on the news. Instead I'd like to bring forward and share inspiration, positivity and hope that art can give to us all. 

It feels quite strange that right now and back then in the span of 20 years our time has become polar opposites, but I truly believe in our creating art it still has the same values that are even stronger today in our isolation.

At the beginning of this year 2020 I had decided to start to blog (again), to copy up my writings of my diary - Art Culture Vulture : Travels of an Art Seeker -My Artist journey from 2000- 2002. I  lasted a month and I didn't even get beyond my updates from the UK. The format I chose was jumping the time zones, I didn't even make it to +1 ! 

So now that I've got lots of time and don't really feel like painting, that will come, I'll get back to this. While my artist journey took me on travels worldwide as a sought art globally, now it feels even further away, totally out of reach,  impossible.  Yet with the advancement of technology at our fingertips we can still search, find and share art connecting worldwide from the isolation of our bedroom. 

The painting above I painted a month or so ago, but I've taken the saturation out, below is the original.  Now as I look at both images it seems quite appropriate. Above reminds me of the mountain peaks, ski slopes and the valleys below. Usually this weekend we have so far been lucky to go to the Alps skiing most years and yet that's where our European outbreak started. It's not quite black and white, just a hint of pink and blue that gives me hope.  In the original colour version below and my thoughts after painting it was that it looked like a suspended city. It made me think that here we are, nature is fighting back finding her balance, claiming what is rightly hers. To me the painting looks like a vast landscape that is waiting for us to explore and enjoy, while a pink swallow / hummingbird leads the way. We are still there, but within harmony with nature on her terms. Where I thought it felt like a warning for climate change, now it gives me hope beyond this virus. While we are in lockdown it appears that nature is slowly repairing itself. 

I most definitely didn't think any of this when I painted it, it wasn't intentional, it's only afterwards I try and look and see things, mostly to find a name. 

Wanderlust :  is a strong desire to wander or travel and explore the world.

I guess the whole point of what I'm attempting to do here. 

The scenic photographs below are where I go with my family for our daily walk, down our road around the golf course, mostly we go to catch the sun set and enjoy nature's beauty among the trees. 

Jessica's Pond

Golf Course

Wanderlust : Emma Hill 2020

2000 + 20 Nostalgia, at the end of a Decade.

Evolve

Wow, I'm feeling nostalgic! 

Reaching the end of a decade is a perfect time to reflect and think of new beginnings. Above are my last two paintings that mark the end of this decade with a slight shift in my painting. The first is called 'Evolve', Initially I saw this as a tree of life, there are so many complex different mark makings, textures and details that somehow work in harmony. Now in the light,  I see a woman's figure, with her arms open wide which feels comforting and reassuring. 

Chaos

The second painting, 'Chaos' seems to echo the sentiment of uncertainty within our society at this moment in time. And yet within all the conflict of colour and texture all fighting to speak there is comfort and hope within a suggestion of an embryo form, bringing new life and wonder for all. 

The last year has been a huge high but also low in regards to my own painting. I had one of my paintings transformed into three different Liberty fabrics in both Tana Lawn cotton and satin silk, I was part of a TV documentary series for the BBC 'A Day that Changed My Life,'  except nothing did really. I had a time of serious doubt and seriously thought I'm never going to paint again. In asking myself what's the point of my painting I guess like most other artists, I simply need to, because if I don't, I get a big open void of emptiness inside.  Luckily I'm back on track, painting again, I've found my happy place simply by playing with paint.

So in relation to everyone else what is the point of my painting and what have I got to give or offer?

Not a lot,  except maybe I do.

On one day of asking myself why, I got a lovely comment on a painting I had posted which said how much they loved it, but more so how it made them feel, so happy and how it reminded them of a particular time. And then the light sparked! I paint for others because I hope I can give others hope, a feeling of happiness and well being, a painting to dream into. Yes, it's in my bio, but was wonderful to have it confirmed by someone else.

What's my story? 

I don't have one.

Wait, maybe I do

And this got me thinking. 

In the spaces of time that I haven't been creating, in the need of filling that void, I have found great comfort and goodness, reassurance, hope and happiness in other peoples art. This year I also got my books back after 8 years in storage, a collection of art, design, exhibitions, interiors, travel, philosophy, psychology, fiction, autobiographical, classics, psycho-thiller, and art magazines, 

collected worldwide.  (Although I threw all the diet books out!)

But also hidden away is my diary from 2000 - 2002, which I called 'Art Culture Vulture: Travels of an Art Seeker.' And a giant stack of random - mixed up stack of photos I took during that time. 

Art Culture Vulture 

In 2000, at the turn of the Century, I wasn't painting, but to fill the void I made it my mission to seek art and culture globally while I was cabin crew for British Airways. I somehow knew that by educating myself 'on the street' I would find my own way. Initially my writing was a way to document my travels and experiences and while doing so to give an impression of art globally held within a segment of time, from a different perspective, not from an art critic or within the Art establishment but from a 20 something year old who simply loves art.

Looking back at it now, I realise that my thoughts and belief's are very much the same today as they were back then. 

Which brings me back to : 

What's my story? 

It's the same as it has always been:  A collection of other peoples stories.

In my searching for art to find my own I wrote: 

20/03/03

There are no conclusions to any writing, instead it has become a continuous journey of searching. Globally relationships between societies with cultural differences have embraced each other Worldwide. Many countries became hosts to others, interested in promoting a country that is very different from their own, creating cultural awareness and understanding, connecting all walks of life. As I play catch up on my writing, the evidence of my experiences would indicate that the world has been brought closer together, becoming united. From the people that I met  and the increasing development of technology, connecting the remotest of people together would indicate this is becoming easier by the day, 

I now spend my time painting my own pictures drawing from inspiration that has come to me while travelling and seeking other people's art. 

(And in the un-edited version: : Today the World is in a state of uncertainty as we stand, 'Shoulder to Shoulder,' with America and go to War with Iraq, in an attempt to irradiate Sadam, a war to be fought in order to secure World Peace. Nobody could ever know what will become the consequence of such actions. The future will tell, we can only hope and believe. )

30/12/2019

The above was written in a time when there wasn't any social media or smart phones. My internet connection at home was hopeless, it would take about 15 mins to dial up, so I didn't bother using it. Google and Facebook weren't available until 2004. Back then I traveled, explored and connected with people real time and it was an amazing adventure. As an artist today I feel that maybe that is part of what I am meant to be doing: Interacting, connecting and sharing stories, my own but in doing so, connecting others and sharing their stories. 

This blog will take you through my artist journey while sharing art I love. At the core i'll be working through my journal of 20 years ago and then introduce my own art , but also other people's art that has made a great impact on me today.  

I'm excited to what 2020 will bring,

In this I hope to share with you a love of art and in doing so share hope and happiness. 

My 24 year old self receiving my wings for British Airways who I'm eternally grateful for 

My 24 year old self receiving my wings for British Airways who I'm eternally grateful for, my 'Art' education. 

Lucid Moonlight, Liquid Sun

These are my first two paintings I made after writing my journal,

  represented by New British Artists. 

Pink Sock, Soda Pop