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A cross-disciplinary artist, Abdulwaduud Afolabi, aka MrWaduud, tells FAITH AJAYI about his career and other issues
What informed your decision to study Fine and Applied Art?
Initially, I was studying Economics, but I was mostly at the Fine Art studio than in the Social Sciences faculty, because I was so in love with art. When I got to 200 level, I made up my mind that if I continued that way, I would keep passing, but would end up as a frustrated economist or banker behind a desk. So, I inquired if I could switch courses, and I applied to study Fine Arts. That was how I decided that if I was going to give another four years of my life to a course of study, it should be something I genuinely loved to do; and not just what was convenient for society.
At what point in your life did you discover your passion/talent for art?
I had been drawing since I was in secondary school. Back then though, I was just testing my capacity to draw, but that curiosity quickly transformed into my comfort zone, and my passion for it kept growing.
How long have you been creating art?
I have been practising professionally for a decade.
Where do you draw inspiration for your works?
I would say a love beyond myself. The human experience is filled with inspiration, but the love that goes beyond ourselves is what moves me to create the most. If through my art, I can make someone feel heard or seen; then, that’s all the inspiration I need.
How would you describe your kind of art?
My art is limitless. I have unlearnt boxing myself into styles. Ultimately, the purpose of my art is to serve as an invitation to self, and that is what I wake up every day to evolve my art into being.
What emotion do you aim to evoke in your audience with your pieces?
Warmth; the kind that comes from being heard and seen. My biggest hope is that my art comforts someone out there, and reminds them that they are not alone while giving them hope that tomorrow holds more magic.
What do you consider as challenges peculiar to artists in Nigeria?
I will mention two. One of them is the lack of information and abuse of the creative. The challenges in the Nigerian art space are too numerous to mention, but I strongly believe that if there were sufficient platforms that emphasise the value of the artist in the eco-system beyond reserving the discussion for only art fairs, more artists would be tooled with the right information to better their craft and understand their importance in society.
Also, because there is no consequence when the right of a creative, especially emerging ones, is abused, it has become a constant practice, especially from so-called mentors to their mentees.
How were you able to overcome these challenges?
I learnt on the job. My mum did not raise me to act small, and that can be a threat to many. Also, I look beyond the shores of Nigeria to get information. I study how artists and other creatives who have done well for themselves did it, and I try to improve on that.
What are the highlights of your career as an artist?
My first solo exhibition tagged, ‘Military Zone: Keep Off’ held earlier in the year at the Art Pantheon Gallery, Oniru, Lagos. It was a dream come true for me. It was the first time that the burden of what was on the other side of curiosity was lifted off my shoulder. The exhibition was a philosophical journey through the collective human experience, where I invited my viewers to challenge societal expectations, and embrace the full spectrum of their emotions and curiosity, while subtly touching on the joyful influence of art on mental health.
Have you undergone any form of training to improve your craft?
Other than my academic studies in the university, everything I do was learnt on the job. However, it is important to note that I have always remained teachable. I have greatly learnt from artists way ahead of me, locally and internationally; as well as creators that gave me access to them and gave me answers that were instrumental to my growth. They include Chris Do, El Seed, Uthman Wahab, Tobbinator, Tobi Adebule, Majid Biggar, Afolabi Enoch, Brother Ahmad; and Nana Sonoiki, the curator at the Art Pantheon Gallery. I have been able to have a front-row seat to learn from her years of experience in the industry. Improving on that has been one of my life’s biggest training.
What role do you think art can play in the growth and evolution of society?
Art plays a very significant role in reflecting our cultural identity as a nation. I remember being so drawn to the cartoons in newspapers, because they subtly served as a powerful tool for advocacy, using humour and satire to address social and political issues.
I am also a poet, so I have seen how poetry offers a platform for our sense of self-expression and cultural preservation. If you listen to the words of some spoken word artists, you will find that they capture the essence of the Nigerian experiences.
Music, which is a universal language has probably been our biggest artistic and creative export. It has done a lot in connecting people across diverse backgrounds, while conveying messages of societal change.
We should also not forget that fashion acts as a visual representation of Nigerian creativity and tradition. Basically, art has always contributed to shaping our cultural landscape and driving dialogue on important social issues.
How has technology impacted your work?
Technology has impacted my work through amplification and presentation. Social media has helped me to scale my craft from being just a passion to source of livelihood. I cannot overstate the role that technology has played in my craft, but we are not anywhere close in terms of product or access to technologies that our contemporaries in the West have, and that enables them to bring ideas with the wow effects to life.
What motivated the pieces in your recent exhibition?
Complacency is a major theme that runs through them. I grew up seeing many people with raging energy and vibrant spirits in their youth slip into complacency, and I observed that they all ended that way, because they lived only to please others. They conformed even when they were not comfortable. That somehow has to change. So, let’s talk about it. That was what motivated me.
What differentiates your art from that of others out there?
I don’t know how to draw comparisons. I am a big believer in the saying that the sky is big enough for all of us to fly. Who cares if someone else is smarter or better skilled? Who cares if she’s the best and I am not close? I am a traveller in the world, and I am just here sharing my contemplation on life as I pass by.
Have you ever thought of quitting?
I would rather die than quit. If I ever stop creating, that would practically amount to me committing suicide. Art is at the core of my being.
How do you unwind?
I read, swim, spend time with friends, go to the beach, watch movies, and visit art galleries.
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