Today we’d like to introduce you to Peter Adelaja

Hi Peter , so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?

My journey as an artist is as old as I am, meaning I’ve always been an artist since I can remember. But I will say I made up my mind to pursue art as a career when I was 13 or 14 years old at a phase when I began critical examination of my life due observation of how my lifes journey has no resemblance to that of my peers in every ramifications. This made against all odds choose to study fine and applied arts at the Obafemi Awolowo University ile-ife oshun State Nigeria where which I come to realize that the best of artist are self thought because the formal education only boxes you with too much principals and rules. This discovery made me sick out mentors who where thriving in the field this part lead me to meeting the renowned up cycle sculpture Dotun Popoola and the versatile Patrick Akpojotor, who respectively guided me in unleashing my creative process beyond the limits place by the four walls of formal schooling. Also I’ve been involved in the Harmmatan workshop organizing by the legendary prof Bruce Onabrakpeya which introduced me to the medium which I now thrive in (stone carving) along side meeting with many renowned artist over different specialisations. This workshop has been pivotal to the relationships and exhibitions I’ve had over the years.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?

Wew!!! It’s been a rollercoaster journey so far have to be navigating the shack filled art market, losing works to crooks, going months with no commissions or sales. Having to navigate the art space in a country like Nigeria with limited opportunities and bad governmental policies amid a crashing economy as and is a real real struggle.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?

My works are inspired by energies and movement(both that of the animate and inanimate), how everything thing around us are all connected by moving energies, that is we are interconnected with the space around us in such a manner that our thoughts, actions and inactions influences everything and everyone within our space (our space isn’t limited by geography but stretches to the metaphysical, psychological and sublime environments).

With my love for and my experiences in different modes of deliberate dynamic movements disciplines ranging from dance to sports and the martial arts, I noticed there are moments that move by too quickly and can’t actually be captured by a camera because it’s a pure inner feeling that only the perform and sometimes some of the people physically precent in that ‘space’ at that moment. So as a sculptor who has experienced this moments as a dancer and a martial artist I try to capture those moments in more tangible forms using solid materials such as stones, wood and metal.

I choose to use stones (most especially marble) because, movements especially in dance uses lots of fluidity while Stones on the other hand are rigid and steady so in my bid to bring the intangible into tangible using forms I try to understanding the ‘harmony of contrast’; like how light can’t be perceived without darkness or good without evil and how contrasting views exist for the sake of inter relationship among humans and the ‘space’, for the sake of bonding, coexistence and evolving, so doing I present the stone sculptures as though they were fluid and flexible materials. With my ever growing curious mind I hope to explore more materials and subjects around the concepts of energy, people and space.

What I believe makes my practice unique is in my ability to understand the concept of chaos and balance and above all by faith in Christ.

Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?

The knowledge that after all these there is life after free of pain and struggles. Also seals and opportunities to be in an exhibition as it gives me the sense of fulfillments that I’m fulfilling purpose.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: Peter_bezalel
• Facebook: Peter Adelaja
• Twitter: Peter bezallel