We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful ODINAKA Ugwu Emmanuel. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with ODINAKA below.

ODINAKA , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

Well, being the first artist in my generation, it wasn’t easy at the beginning. I didn’t get much support from my family, who didn’t understand what it was like for me – an eight-year-old child always making sketches of cartoons and pictures of my family members, and sculpting with mud during rainy seasons. Thinking about it now just gives me nostalgic feelings.

At first, they loved it, especially my dad. I remember him giving me a stencil carving project, which he loved. However, when he got a report from my primary school teacher that I had drawings all over my notebooks, he banned me from drawing. The only times I could draw and sculpt were when I or my siblings had an assignment on that, which I was always happy to help with.

I gained freedom from this ban when I got into a boarding school where I could reunite freely with art and drawing whenever I wanted. The first time I could recall deciding to pursue art professionally was in my senior school two (SS2). Our headmistress, whom we called “Big Mommy,” asked us to write down what we wanted to be in the future and what course of study we wanted to pursue in university. I wrote that day that I wanted to be an artist, but I didn’t know there was a specific course for artists in university, so I left that space blank.

when it was my turn to present what I had written at her office, she was quite surprised that I knew I wanted to be an artist and didn’t know, neither did I care if there was a course of study in university or not. she looked at me with a smile on her face as she wrote something on my paper which I had submitted to her and when she was done she said to me “fine and applied art, that’s what it’s called at the university level”. She gave me a copy of it. At that time I was fourteen years old. Ever since then I sort a part for myself professionally through the university and mentors and afterwords up until now.

ODINAKA , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My names are ODINAKA EMMANUEL UGWU from Enugu state Nigeria Born 2001.
I’m a visual artist and a graduate of the fine and applied arts department of the university of Nigeria Nsukka where I majored in painting.
My style of art is based on a deep study of Baroque, Renaissance and modern expressionist artists which aided in developing my artistic skills. I work with a variety of mediums, drawing and painting continuously drawing inspiration from my personal experiences
My works of art serves as an inclination to ponder on human therapy as the art I creat aided in my own journey from living In an unreal world made up as a safe heaven from reality and truth. In my works of art are introspective views of mine, starting from my personal Philosophy of life and believes which have become my truth, aiding the world meditate on self-love and self care through self discovery.
I have taken part in some exhibitions some of which are:
modhafest 2022 with theme: connecting the world through arts.
Also an exhibition at Nails in the wall gallery with theme : Emerging
artsplit x nsukka art school exhibition.
A top 100 finalist at the limcaf exhibition 2023 themed fix it

Through my art, I aim to spark conversations, ignite empathy, and inspire positivity. I believe creativity has the power to transform and uplift, and I strive to create works that reflect this. My artistic journey is about sharing my experiences and perspectives while amplifying the voices and stories of others. I hope my art inspires others to embrace their uniqueness, cultivate self-love, and strive for mental wellness.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

Earlier on in my creative journey, people around never really appreciated art unless it was some replication of objects or persons who they knew, I had to make free portrait sketches for people to recognize me as an artist, so they could give me portrait commissions to work on or I take on side job’s, this is how I fended for myself as a fine arts undergraduate, this was before I could get a cell phone that could access the internet and social media. When I did get a phone that could access the internet I had already gained some recognition as a portrait artist, because of this, people also trusted that I could paint murals so I did take up some mural commissions, while I posted portraits on social media.

I was coping fine until 2020 when the world was struck by the Covid 19 pandemic and there was a decline of commissions and all I had left where my charcoal pencils. this was when I started creating artworks off of my experiences. It was through this period I gained some recognition on social media and afterwords I only took portrait commissions once in a while so I could spend more time creating and exploring other creative medias.

Through consistency I was invited to take part in some group exhibitions, some in the country, outside the country and some virtual exhibitions, some of which where through applications for open calls. I was able to meet other bigger artists and mentors most of which where online, who aided me get better.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

I think the society should invest in living artists by the purchasing of their artworks and creating more avenues for beginner or mid-career artists to showcase there works of art. Lastly Artist residencies talks and workshops aimed at educating younger artists to better project themselves as professionals should be set in place.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: Emmanuel.ugwu_ https://www.instagram.com/emmanuel.ugwu_?igsh=N2wxOXVidWU4cnpw&utm_source=qr
• Youtube: Nuel Art https://youtube.com/@emmanuelugwu4758?si=Nh2j-_AKExI8Nggz