Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to E.d Adegoke. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi E.d, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.
For me, Art I believe is an intermediary between man and his aesthetics. I see Art as a mouthpiece for mankind an expressive tool in which the Artist just like in poetry we’ve the poet persona, his tone and mood in which the poem was inspired this is the same way I feel about Art too having said being a poet and a writer also makes me a better Artist and never makes me run out of ideas. Not trying to be boastful of my creative credibility but I’m one of those few Artists who doesn’t experience any sort of creative block it’s so many things to ponder on for me as a creative individual, I consider myself a driving force tho I’m not everything I wanna be yet, don’t know how close or how far I am to it but I believe in pushing boundaries and more of pragmatic endeavors I can be all I wanna be. As an Artist I’ve discussed so many issues relating to man and humanity, I understand Art can mean a lot to do many individuals but for me, Art must bring about change. I find Art very serious not just something I do for the sake of fun or Leisure but rather a means of expressing myself, my thoughts, feelings and aspirations.
Art isn’t always about what it means to us but what it does to us, how it makes us feel, that exact emotion it strikes in us Art can be a very powerful tool in making change in man’s society. Art has the power to change the way we see the world, awakening us to new perspectives, ideas, and values. It can take us back in time to reflect on our past or push us further into our future. Art can bring awareness to social issues and foster a sense of acceptance bringing people together regardless of background. Art is not only a form of expression but also an invitation to problem-solve and grow within ourselves and our communities. Whether creating or experiencing it, art provides unique ways for understanding different points of view while inspiring citizens to create meaningful social change. Ultimately, art helps shape our societies by providing platforms for creativity and solidarity to thrive like in my recently concluded series “Rekindling hope”.
The paintings in this series are inspired by life experiences, living in turbulent times and the essence of Hope in different phases of life, to believe in hope and to nurture hope. When hope is damaged it affects more than one person. Hope is a positive and potent spiritual practice with the power to pull us through difficult times. It is usually described with light metaphors a ray, a beam, a glimmer of hope; the break in the clouds; the light at the end of the dark tunnel. It is often discovered in unexpected places. Hope can be learned with practice. Certain attitudes support it. One is patience, an ability to tolerate delays, a willingness to let events unfold in their own time. The other is courage, an attitude of confidence even when facing the unknown. A third is persistence, the determination to keep going no matter what happens. We have hope when we can say, all will be well, and we mean it.
Being a positive influence on the world around you will inspire and motivate people to stay hopeful in their goals. They will realize that things may not be as bad as they may appear. It will help others to keep up with their actions applied toward their hopes. Each one of us has the capacity to influence each other to stay hopeful. Where there is Hope, there is life. It fills us with fresh courage and makes us strong again. The capacity to hope is an indispensable human quality even in times of crisis when confidence and trust have been broken, hope sustains us in our living. Also I’m glad some of the works from this series will be showing at the Art Basel Miami this December in courtesy of Youth concept gallery.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I perceive art as an intermediary between man and his aesthetic feelings, while I perceive the aesthetic feelings as the way nature treats man. My works are about faith, humanity, social ills and matters that I am passionate about. I, the artist, through my messenger, my art, do lay emphasis on humanity, a virtue and mortal circumstance that is going extinct. I, the artist, channels the use of my
mouthpiece, my art, for Mankind to propagate the need to bring positive and progressive change, freedom, human rights, equality, love and understanding its essence and also bringing us out of
every setback we might have ignorantly caused ourselves. Its role doesn’t end by enabling transformation alone, as it is also a repelling agent against all things that don’t favor humanity like our evangelised materialism and our prideful and excessive egoism. My art is about man’s society. The man’s society is not developing, and this is because it works on an alien system. Asides making art for aesthetic reasons or for the love of art, I also believe in
making works about the struggles that are related with people’s existence which are psychological, sociopolitical, economical, spiritual and artistic, i.e I endeavor to portray the idea of the people’s environment in my art. Hence, art to me is all about the representation of what is happening in the life of a people at a particular period of time. As far as Africa is concerned, with this yardstick, art
can not just be only for aesthetics, art must be for the imminent, needed and inevitable revolution. That’s an integral category art would work in, in Africa’s particularly peculiar situation. I have chosen acrylics and mixed media as my means of expression because of the freedom and reach it affords
me, as it makes available to the artists the freedom to touch on various media with diverse textures to convey tons of messages that is liable to influence the perusers. My works are inspired by the society, the problems of the people, experiences and probable solutions to some certain problems affecting the human life and growth. These are the thoughts that foster my imagination which ends up on the canvas, as much as I love to discuss prevailing issues in the life of mankind, I also love to share my ideas on solitudes, perseverance, resilience, and hope. All these are my focus as an Artist, I want people to feel hope in my works, either with my experience or the experience of other people in my paintings I want my works to reflect on the human experience. Like in my recently concluded series/body of work “Rekindling hope”. I’d not want to say this but this is the best body of work I’ve ever made so far as an Artist. The works in this series are indeed very special to me because they are creative visual adaptations of my unpublished memoir “Songs of hope”. The major pursuit of a thoughtful being is to live right. And living right, similar to being good is a great debate and decision between societal dictates and the impulses of the being. These two, the author has combined in his relations with his fellow humans. Without fellow humans, there may not be thought, if there would be, it would be the higher version, thinking aloud. And without other fellow humans, there would be no such thing as a book or documentation, as man’s purpose and intention precede his creation.
Songs of Hope is a benevolent record of how a soul lived, shunning himself from keeping a private life, of his insecurities, fears, hopes, and sentiments toward himself. It speaks frequently about love. A love found. Love, unrequited. Love turning to hate. Deception. Politics. Vanity. Family. Fancy. Humble habits. Ignorance. A path into becoming. Hope. And other human condition themes in its subtle veil.
The book is an affectionate work, that cradles human relationships and prices them to be indispensable. It is a show of appreciation for every stone that caused a fall and the ones that eased a rising, idolising the conflicts that our frail humanity often criticizes. Its style is like that of a babe just living and growing; it is not intentionally careless, it is just a beginning; the strides in a beginning.
This book is weak to say it is strong, as it is a compilation of the yearnings of a soul for betterment. Its affirmed knowledge is but simple passed down wisdom. It is a scripture of wanting to know how it feels to be budding in a disadvantaged environment.
The tone and style can be likened to that of life, unpredictable, uneven, un-categorical, lawless yet abiding and, impulsively natural.
E.d Adegoke
Artist, writer, poet and researcher.
2022.
How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?
In a world frequently dominated by substance and numbers, it is vital not to neglect the undeniable impact of culture, a realm where artists and creatives contribute immensely. However, the question that pervades this discourse is, ‘What can society do to support artists and a thriving creative ecosystem?’
Art is an intellectual property that resonates with humanity’s sensibilities; nevertheless, the preservation, proliferation, and sustenance of this precious asset require concerted effort. Artists and creatives nationwide deserve an environment that not only celebrates their talent but nurtures it, fostering a thriving creative ecosystem. One constructive step society can take involves investing in education, particularly arts education, establishment of more creative industries and institutions such as; More Art galleries, Museums, and fairs to celebrate and appreciate young talents, creation of Funds and grants available for Artists to carry out their projects and foster intellectual endeavors. A thriving creative ecosystem is a testament to society’s intellectual affluence and cultural wealth. By prioritising arts education, offering tangible support to artists, championing inclusivity and collaboration, and vigorously protecting intellectual property, society has the potential to sow the seeds of an imaginative future.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
Artistry and creativity come in various forms and tangents, each concerning the interpretation and expression of human sentiments and experiences. The binding thread among all these forms lies in their ability to provide an immense sense of reward and personal gratification to those who engage in them. This humble suggestion of mine aims to scrutinise the deeply personal and universally humane aspect of satisfaction derived from being an artist or from indulging in any creative pursuit. One of the foremost compelling aspects of being an artist is the freedom of expression it affords me. As an Artist I express my thoughts, ideas and experiences through my work, emulating a form of communication without any tangible language restrictions.
This endowment of free expression serves as a confidante to me, a safe space to externalize my emotions and communicate with the world on my terms. Consequently, this attribute contributes significantly to the gratification I garner from my artistic endeavours, thus rendering it a uniquely rewarding experience. Further, creativity serves as a means of self-exploration and personal growth. During my artistic process, i unravel and understand different sides of my personality. This process often implies a metaphorical journey that entails introspection and self-discovery. Unveiling one’s inner realm and understanding the intricacies of their psyche, essentially makes artistry a process of ongoing learning. Thus, these monumental moments of self-realisation make the creative process an immensely rewarding journey for an artist.
The most rewarding aspect of being an artist or engaging in creative endeavours lies in the freedom of expression that it bestows, the opportunity for personal growth and exploration, and the ability to connect deeply with others. Despite the challenges and adversities that come with it, the wholesome reward of personal satisfaction, fulfillment, and accomplishment pave the way for why art and creativity continue to be rewarding undertakings.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Skymo4iTJYRSDWvZT724plGxWDX-Qvke/view?usp=drivesdk
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/e.d_adegoke?igshid=ajNkcWp2eWpobnlj
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@edadegoke2144?si=e35_s6l6juVx8yHz
Image Credits
Abifola Olorunlana.