Interview with Laolu Senbanjo
Laolu Senbanjo is an artist/musician/lawyer and most of all a humbling individual who is making a great impact around the world. I had the opportunity to interview him and we talked about a wide variety of topics such as his artworks, music, working with The National Human Rights Commission in Nigeria, thoughts on creativity, plus more. Enjoy!
When was your starting point as an artist?
I have been drawing since I was a child. In elementary school I used to draw a lot of dc and marvel comic characters like spider man, batman and superman.
My friends and I used to create our own comics.
So when did you decide to take it to the professional level?
I just loved art and was passionate about art. As a kid, I started observing local artists in Nigeria. I will go to their small studios and be blown away with their work and I will go back home and start making my own art pieces. I used to draw on the wall and I got spanked a lot for that. (laughs)
Yes, it seems most African parents do not appreciate art or see it as a profession.
Yes they do not see it as a profession.
Life is all about choices and I chose to do art. It is very fulfilling and I love what I do.How was your parents reaction with your interest in art?
My story is pretty funny. Right after secondary school, I wanted to study arts in University. My father told me to think about it properly and actually drove me in his car around the city to observe the lifestyle of local artists, which is very poor in Nigeria. He asked me if this is what I want my life to be like? and it scared me.
So eventually he had his way and I ended up studying law. But I kept on drawing most of the time during University and started to making artworks as well even during my final year in law school. At some point, it was really difficult for me combining the two.
After law school, I wanted to have an exhibition, my passion for art was very strong I could not hold it any more. I was finding myself and felt I was not true to myself.
I decided to focus solely on art and my father and other people's reaction again were very negative. But I was determined and since then I have not looked back.
Life is all about choices and I chose to do art. It is very fulfilling and I love what I do.
I salute you for following your heart. Even though society tried to deviate you from what you truly love.
Thank you.
How have you grown and evolved. In terms of your style and direction of art?
That is an interesting question. Most of the time I draw inspirations from different cultures. I like to talk about things that are happening around me, politics, places I have been, the people I interact with, basically all the things I do and my surroundings.
I had an exhibition in South Africa and my short stay there exposed me to a lot of South African artists, I learned a lot from the artists and took something away from there. I did the same in Germany when I had an exhibition there. Now I am currently in New York having an exhibition and its been a great experience.
As far as my mediums, I started with ink and Biro pen on white paper then pastel paper. I tried out pencil, which was fantastic until I discovered charcoal, which was a whole transition for me. Charcoal is my main medium now. I discovered a lot of artists stay away from charcoal because it is very hard to control.
But for me, it is just beautiful. There is something about the intricacy of black and white, shades and grey.
When I draw charcoal on a white paper or pastel paper, it just dissolves. It blends with my ideas.
So it syncs perfectly with your art?
Yes it does!
I also use acrylic color, ink color and oil sometimes.
What is the most important factor to you when working on a project?
Most important factor will be my state of mind. I channel my thoughts into my energy and bring it out.
I believe every art represents a frozen moment of time, energy and everything around the artist.
Does it mean your art always come from a positive state of mind or mood?
Its all about life, one does not always remain in a specific state of mind or mood. There are sad moments and happy moments.
I even draw sometimes when I am ill. Art does not discriminate your mood, one can channel any energy into art and it stays there.
It is like a natural thing that hits you and you just do it.
Exactly.
What is your perfect working mode?
It is definitely not the current New York weather (laughs).
My perfect moment will be listening to music. I actually make music as well, so I will have my musical instruments on standby.
Once my mind is in the right place and I have my canvas and music, I am good to go.
Sometimes I make my art with the company of people.
So you do not get any distractions working with the company of other people?
Most artists I have interviewed prefer to work in a space by themselves.
It all depends. Sometimes I like to have some noise, sometimes I do not.
All the mode, vibe and space transcends into the art piece you work on right?
Yes it does. That is what I try to capture. An artist is not paid for labor, an artist is paid for what he sees.
Making art is very intellectual and based on balancing concepts, ideas, mixing colors. Every stroke of art is an evaluation.
There is no formula or one way direction then?
Yes very true..Its all moments.
How do you know when you are done or satisfied?
(laughs) Its one of those things you just know.
What has been the most challenging project for you so far?
Orisun Sculpture. Orisun means "Source of Humanity"
Orisun is the Yoruba mythology about creation and things that happened during the pre-existence of man and how man came to be.
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| Orisun sculpture |
How was it challenging for you? Was it the research?
It was my first time making a sculpture. I honestly thought it would be done in about three weeks but it took me about four months. I almost went crazy because I had no idea sculpting and carving required a lot of work and energy. As an artist, I am used to canvas and the mediums I often use, so working on wood was a different ball game. But once I was done, it was worth all the trouble.
Have you done any other sculptures after that?
No. but I would love to do a collaboration project with real sculptors in the future.
Talking about collaborations, have you had any with other artists?
I have illustrated book covers for writers, besides that I mostly do solo projects. This spring I will be doing a mural in Brooklyn with other artists in Brooklyn.
Will that be your first mural work?
I have done a mural artwork before but it was just wall paper prints glued on the wall, I will not really call that a mural artwork but the one in Brooklyn will be my first mural work and it will be a large scale artwork.
It seems you like challenges as well as finding different ways/mediums of expressing yourself.
Definitely.
That is good. I really do not like when people put themselves in a box or limit what they are capable of doing.
Most Africans tend to stick to a specific lane preventing themselves to elevate creatively.
Very true. I believe every creative artist should explore and learn. I want to explore into a lot of mediums. I am currently into textile design now and working with some Brooklyn fashion designers to design clothes.
What is the art scene now like in Nigeria?
I am a member of the society of Nigerian artists in Lagos Nigeria. We always come together and organize exhibitions in every October and June.
People appreciate art and artists are properly treated and respected in places like Paris, New York and other dominant art cities. Unlike Nigeria, everyone is supposed to be a doctor or lawyer. People do not buy art, the people that do most are expatriates that get the art for cheap and take it abroad.
But is it growing?
Yes it is growing but I wish it was a lot better than it is now. There are a lot of talents in West Africa and there should be more attention to the art industry and developing the artists as well. The artists are not well compensated. But is getting better though compared to what it used to be ages ago. A lot of artists like myself are getting exposure. So lets hope for the best.
Where is your favorite spot in Nigeria?
I will be biased on this one. I have a gallery in Abuja and I hangout a lot there.
I also like Terra Kulture in Lagos as well as Lekki art gallery also in Lagos, that is one place anyone who visits Nigeria should definitely go to.
I believe the moment you help a girl, you help a generation.Besides art and music what else are you passionate about?
I am passionate about Human Rights. My focus is women and children's rights and Basic fundamental human rights. I worked with the National Human Rights Commission in Nigeria as a lawyer and senior legal adviser. One of the major problems we face in Nigeria is a lot of Nigerians do not know that there are international conventions that are ratified by the constitution. We educate Nigerians about the necessity of children's education. We do counselling on abusive relationships in marriages and also help women with divorce situations. We raise funds and organize organize different kinds of outreaches. We deal with serious issues such as children being forced into early marriages due to poverty. We raise funds and put the children in foster homes. I believe the moment you help a girl, you help a generation.
All these gives me a lot of joy helping people get out of situations to a better place. These are things I am really passionate about.
How can people support?
Visit their website for more information and also help create the awareness.
How will you define creativity or what is your opinion on creativity?
Creativity is the ability to create something from nothing. Artists like musicians use silence as their canvas.
They arrange sounds and make music into an empty space and based on what you hear and perceive, the listener will decide what is good music or bad music, but you can not deny the art in the space of silence because ones you turn off the music all you have is silence.
Creativity is putting different levels of your imaginations, experience, energy and channeling them into something totally different, something that has not existed at that particular point in time.
What do you like most about what you do?
My ability to stimulate people's minds. I recently met an artist who is a teacher, she loves my artworks and asked my permission to use my artworks to teach her 6th grade class. As an artist, she has not used her artwork to teach her class but her student loved my artworks they sent me letters and an invite to come to their school and lecture about my artwork. The students did an interpretation of my artworks and it was just amazing. That was a humbling and touching moment for me it brought me close to tears. Nothing gives me more confirmation to continue what I am doing. Because it came from pure hearts and being able to inspire them to do art, that is something I will hold on and cherish forever.
Thank you Laoulu Senbanj..you are an inspiration to not just Africans but human beings in general. Keep on doing the great work!
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