Kenny Adewuyi: Using sculpture as tool for self expression
By DAMIETE BRAIDE and OLAMIDE BABATUNDE
Kenny Adewuyi is an artist and sculptor. As a sculpture, he has carved a niche with a brand of artwork: focusing mainly on the human body, especially the legs. His bent doesn’t come out of the blue. He experiments with the human body, and that’s why he deploys exaggeration and elongation of the human body.
During his childhood days, he liked using his hands to make different crafts. In secondary school, one of his eight subjects was Arts and Crafts, no wonder then he became the best student. Initially, he thought art was a hobby, but, after failing to gain admission into the department of his choice, he enrolled in Fine Arts at Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria.
“In my works, I employ methods of exaggeration and elongation of the human figure to best portray and express my inner feelings about the subjects that I often see in my environment,” he said. In this interview, he also spoke on his artistic journey, inspiration and mentorship, reception to his works, among others.
Becoming an artist
My group of friends inspired me to start my artistic journey. One of my mentors was the great painter, the late Gani Otudokun, who was a very strict and principled person. As students, we found him very difficult, not realizing that the best direction was what he taught us. His art inspired me, although he was a painter and I a sculptor. I was also mentored by an American lecturer, Tyrone Geter, an African American artist. I used to love attending drawing classes at his house, even on Sundays. In those days, we used to study on Mondays through Sundays, because we worked seven times a week. However, at the time, we used to think that was punishment, but the discipline really prepared us for life.
Why I focus on certain parts of the human body
The exaggeration of the lower limbs came about at the start of my post-graduate programme. I liked sculpting the human figure and, with my little knowledge of anatomy, I chose to experiment and not respect the normal rules of proportion. The lower torso of the human figure interested me. I tried to lay more emphasis on that rather than the upper part of the body. It is something that has continued subconsciously since then, though I am still exploring and developing my art.
Preparing for a new piece of art
First of all, I work on the form in raw clay. Thereafter, I wax the mould to get the original clay form into wax. Then I make a wax cast and get the wax form which I finally cast into bronze.
Reception to my works
People have always shown great interest in my work both locally and internationally, because it is so different. It is what comes out of me, and I do not bother on how people receive my work. All I do is express myself and my inner feelings.
Inspiration
My Nigerian background has a strong influence on my inspiration and my ideas of creativity. Things I see around me are things that motivate my creation and come into play when I make my sculptures.
Improving the Nigerian artistic environment
Art has not received the needed favourable attention in Nigeria, because some artists are still living from hand-to-mouth. We are still finding it difficult to survive, but I think history will vindicate us. I hope to see more collectors trying their best to acquire art and support up-and-coming artists. We also need more professional galleries, as well as promoters, and agents to work with artists. We need exhibitions that will really project and promote Nigerian and African art on the continent and abroad.
What keeps me going
It is a very difficult thing to explain, because my profession has turned out to be my hobby. I am in the arts, because it is what I love to do, and it is what I have passion for. Art has been part of me and, whenever I focus on my art, I forget about what is bothering me. My art is my medicine. At times, in life, one finds oneself, irrespective of one’s age, gender or status, in situations not desired by one consciously or subconsciously. These are the kind of moments I reflect on, and see my art as a means of communicating these instants; my voice self expression.
Themes in my work
I am influenced by what I see in my environment, and the people I see around me. My work generally focuses on day-to-day issues surrounding life and human existence. The likely poses of standing, sitting, sleeping and squatting… I also comment about those aspects in life that are not all that “rosy”.
Works evolving
I am still searching and developing my art, and I do not think I have reached my peak. As time goes on, I continually try to improve my standards, especially in terms of size. I am working towards my pieces being no less than one meter in height by 2015.
Source: http://sunnewsonline.com/new/?p=108977
Kenny Adewuyi is an artist and sculptor. As a sculpture, he has carved a niche with a brand of artwork: focusing mainly on the human body, especially the legs. His bent doesn’t come out of the blue. He experiments with the human body, and that’s why he deploys exaggeration and elongation of the human body.
During his childhood days, he liked using his hands to make different crafts. In secondary school, one of his eight subjects was Arts and Crafts, no wonder then he became the best student. Initially, he thought art was a hobby, but, after failing to gain admission into the department of his choice, he enrolled in Fine Arts at Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria.
“In my works, I employ methods of exaggeration and elongation of the human figure to best portray and express my inner feelings about the subjects that I often see in my environment,” he said. In this interview, he also spoke on his artistic journey, inspiration and mentorship, reception to his works, among others.
Becoming an artist
My group of friends inspired me to start my artistic journey. One of my mentors was the great painter, the late Gani Otudokun, who was a very strict and principled person. As students, we found him very difficult, not realizing that the best direction was what he taught us. His art inspired me, although he was a painter and I a sculptor. I was also mentored by an American lecturer, Tyrone Geter, an African American artist. I used to love attending drawing classes at his house, even on Sundays. In those days, we used to study on Mondays through Sundays, because we worked seven times a week. However, at the time, we used to think that was punishment, but the discipline really prepared us for life.
Why I focus on certain parts of the human body
The exaggeration of the lower limbs came about at the start of my post-graduate programme. I liked sculpting the human figure and, with my little knowledge of anatomy, I chose to experiment and not respect the normal rules of proportion. The lower torso of the human figure interested me. I tried to lay more emphasis on that rather than the upper part of the body. It is something that has continued subconsciously since then, though I am still exploring and developing my art.
Preparing for a new piece of art
First of all, I work on the form in raw clay. Thereafter, I wax the mould to get the original clay form into wax. Then I make a wax cast and get the wax form which I finally cast into bronze.
Reception to my works
People have always shown great interest in my work both locally and internationally, because it is so different. It is what comes out of me, and I do not bother on how people receive my work. All I do is express myself and my inner feelings.
Inspiration
My Nigerian background has a strong influence on my inspiration and my ideas of creativity. Things I see around me are things that motivate my creation and come into play when I make my sculptures.
Improving the Nigerian artistic environment
Art has not received the needed favourable attention in Nigeria, because some artists are still living from hand-to-mouth. We are still finding it difficult to survive, but I think history will vindicate us. I hope to see more collectors trying their best to acquire art and support up-and-coming artists. We also need more professional galleries, as well as promoters, and agents to work with artists. We need exhibitions that will really project and promote Nigerian and African art on the continent and abroad.
What keeps me going
It is a very difficult thing to explain, because my profession has turned out to be my hobby. I am in the arts, because it is what I love to do, and it is what I have passion for. Art has been part of me and, whenever I focus on my art, I forget about what is bothering me. My art is my medicine. At times, in life, one finds oneself, irrespective of one’s age, gender or status, in situations not desired by one consciously or subconsciously. These are the kind of moments I reflect on, and see my art as a means of communicating these instants; my voice self expression.
Themes in my work
I am influenced by what I see in my environment, and the people I see around me. My work generally focuses on day-to-day issues surrounding life and human existence. The likely poses of standing, sitting, sleeping and squatting… I also comment about those aspects in life that are not all that “rosy”.
Works evolving
I am still searching and developing my art, and I do not think I have reached my peak. As time goes on, I continually try to improve my standards, especially in terms of size. I am working towards my pieces being no less than one meter in height by 2015.
Source: http://sunnewsonline.com/new/?p=108977
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