Hidden treasures abound in arts for youths to explore

Babatunde Ogunlade is an artist of repute With 20 years of consistency in the field. He speaks with Obinna Nnorom on his experiences, achievements and the abounding treasures in the industry for younger artists

Excerpts

May we know you sir?

My name is Babatunde Ogunlade. I am a full-time studio artist, having been in the business of arts since I graduated from the Federal Polytechnic, Auchi, Edo State, Nigeria. Precisely I have been into arts for 20 years now. I am well known in the faculty of Arts because of the unique nature of my works.

Why are you so passionate about the institution, Federal Polytechnic, Auchi?

The department of arts, Federal Polytechnic, Auchi, adds to the popularity of the citadel of learning because the school is very good at arts. It has produced so many great artists with global competitiveness. The school is among the best in Nigeria in terms of rating, and its among the old institutions of higher learning in the country.
There is something spectacular about Federal Polytechnic, Auchi and that is the dimension of the culture of Edo State. Edo culture reflects highly on the Arts Department of the school, which points specifically to the heritage and identity of the people. The school tries to promote the Edo culture proudly.

Further more, Federal Polytechnic, Auchi, has produced so many great talents and masters that are making waves in arts globally such as Olu Ajayi, Felix Odogwu, Kola Balogun etc. It boosts the moores of Edo people in terms of culture.

Some of Ogunlade’s art work

Every art school has their own culture, and Federal Poly, Auchi, has a colour approach to art- vibrancy and uniqueness of colours.

What area of speciality are you in arts?

I specialize in painting. I paint in acrylic material
Your works are abstract in nature and you know it takes a critical mind to interpret such kind of pieces.
You are observant. You know in arts, you as the artist have to express yourself first before your audience can accept you. A fine artist needs to express himself/herself first before the audience can accept him in the market.

You see, some of my students would tell me that I’m passionate with arts; that I will do arts till I die. And I agree with them because arts needs consistency and the more you do it, the more you see and grow in the business.

Ogunlade at work in the studio

But you must be unique in arts for you to be different from the crowd. Every artist has the ability to draw but the ability to perfect your works distinguishes you from the crowd. The uniqueness of an artist makes him different in the labour market.

What’s your view of arts as a way of life?

Arts is eternity. Everyday of our lives, we wake up with arts and sleep with arts. And I want to say that art is a calling. Consistency in arts is the spirituality and longevity in the business. Some of my friends that started arts with me have dropped because they were not consistent. It means that their calling is different but arts is my calling. Arts is my calling.
When I enter your premises and sitting rooms, when i look round and your walls are adorned with brilliant art works, I feel at home.

I am passionate about art, and will forever live for arts. I live at Ayobo, a suburb in Alimosho Local Government of Lagos State. Ayobo is inhabited largely by low income earners. People, here, wonder how I am patronized. But they do not realize that God has deposited great talent of arts in me and that I sell my works in and outside the country.

What I see and think differs from the perception of my neighbours. My works speaks for me; just Google my name and you will see the power of creativity in me.

And at what point did you begin to nurse your interest in arts?

It all started right from my childhood. Then, whenever my parents send me on errand, I would spend time drawing on the ground, thereby delaying the assignment. I would draw in my Mathematics and English Language exercise books etc. I would draw on any platform just to express myself. But my parents would beat me up because they objected to my idea of becoming an artist in the future.

As a student, did you perform exceptionally better than your classmates when it comes to arts?

Yes I was an exceptional student, I was the best student in arts during my secondary school. I represented my school in two different competitions in Ogun State. The award was organised by Abeokuta Improvement Association’s at Lisade Grammar School in 1987.

Tell us your process of painting, what are your considerations in producing pieces of arts?

It all depends on what particular painting I want to do. I can paint with oil colours, acrylic colours, water colour materials etc. My surface material determines what I will paint. But mostly, I do canvas work. I like oil colours, but because of the toxic effects (smell) which affects the health of my children around, I settle for acrylic because it doesn’t have that smell like oil colour.

Where the space (studio) is large, I can do oil colours.
Before I start my works, I make serious sketch. And my sketches have figured lines. Thereafter, I can change to my own way. I can use any features to my own reference change it to my own style of painting.

Can you confidently tell us the exhibitions you had participated in?

One of the challenges I had in my early stage in arts was that my parents felt I would not have bright economic future in arts.  That was their orientation. But things changed when I told them in 2013 that I was traveling to Brazil for art exhibition. My parents were so surprised that they thought I had gotten a job offer to work in Brazil and that made them happy.

How did you get the offer for exhibition in Brazil, did you apply for it?

No, I did not apply for the exhibition. I was offered invitation through the social media; I posted my works on Facebook and the thing went viral. The Brazilian arts industry saw my works and fell in love with them and decided to invite me. They told me to visit their embassy in Abuja, because all the documents and flight ticket I needed for the trip were already provided for.

Surprisingly, no official interview was arranged with me for the travel.
My invitation to Brazil through the social media looked magically simply because I placed my works on social media including, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube. Through these technologies, I can now sell my works anywhere in the world. The social media has broken the barriers in businesses and the art industry is a huge beneficiary.

There in Brazil, did the people respond to you in terms of patronage?

In fact, the Brazilians were surprised at the quality of works I exhibited in their country. You know, I didn’t understand Brazilian language and they hired an interpreter to enable me communicate with them during the exhibition. I spent about four months there.
The Brazilians were wowed at the quality of my works because they had the thinking that nothing good can come from Nazareth (Nigeria). The people fell in love with the uniqueness of my works. This made them asked whether I studied in Europe or America. But they were surprised when I told them that I studied in Nigeria. At that exhibition, I really represented Nigeria through my works.

In terms of patronage, my works were not sold much as I expected but the exhibition exposed me to international limelight. The value of that exhibition is immeasurable to me.

Apart from Brazil, which other countries do you sell your works?

I sell my works in the UK, Germany, USA, France etc. Here in Nigeria, my works are sold across the country.

Have you done any solo exhibition?

Yes I have done four solo exhibitions in Nigeria. And you know it is not easy to organise solo exhibition in the country, but when you do, you are highly rated in the art industry.

In addition, I have done over 15 selected group exhibitions from 2002-2016. My painting has been used for covered book and magazines for university journals, for Department of African Studies, UNIVERSIADE FEDERAL DE MINAS-GREALS, BELO- HORIZONTE

If you were not an artist, which other profession could you have chosen ?

I don’t know. I don’t even think I can do anything outside art. I am art and art is me. For me, life without art is void because my life revolves around arts.
Arts is my calling. It’s about inspiration. A true artist is protected by God, because of his open-mindedness; he has nothing to hide or fear.

How can arts be fronted as a catalyst to  better Nigerian economy?

Good question. You see there has been clarion calls for diversification of the nation’s economy so to be less dependent on oil.. For now, Nigeria is a mono economy, depending only on oil. Government should develop the art industry to boost our economy, because there are hidden treasures in arts.

Without mincing words,  tourism sector presents great economic potentials for the nation. The arts industry has the capacity to generate huge revenue for the government if they pay good attention to the industry.

Arts is a big business in most developed economies. Do you know that in Rio de Janeiro, the capital city of Brazil, the statue (sculpture) of “Jesus the Saviour of the World” rakes in billions of dollars to the country because of influx (millions) people from across the world who visit the country just to see statue. That kind of thing can be promoted here in Nigeria given our great tourist sites. The art industry alone can transform our economy as youths can tap into the economic potentials it offer. The government needs to pay attention to arts in order to take our economy to greater heights.

Who are your mentors?

I have many mentors in the art industry. They are Mr. Olu Ajayi, Duke Asidire and Kunle Folami. I also have mentors at the Universal Studio, where I did my industrial training. I also have my lecturers in the Department of Arts, Federal Polytechnic, Auchi, Edo State. I thank God, I am making them proud.

We need revolution for the new generation of artists in Nigeria, how can this be achieved?

Yes, we need to give birth to new trained artists and expose them to new trends in arts globally. We need to consolidate and even go beyond the conventional in the art industry in Nigeria. We need true identity in arts. At Yaba College of Technology, where I had my Higher National Diploma (HND) in Arts, the institution knows me. Same thing with Auchi Polytechnic because of the uniqueness of my works. We artists need to be proud of our works so that in turn, the nation and world at large will appreciate us more.

Can you proudly mention organizations and Homes, where your works are on display?

Most of my works are purchased by private people. Proudly, my works are present in the home of Dr. Adedeji Adeleke, (father of Davido, the musician), Chairman of Pacific Holding Nigeria Ltd- 2005; Market Scene Paintings Nig. Ltd- 2005; Collection of Paintings by (Pacific Holdings Nig. Ltd- 2004; Market Scene Paintings (by Victor Mba. A) U. S. A.- 2000; Mural Decoration, for (Alafin Retreat Centre), Ifo, Ogun State; Collection of Abstract Paintings (By Mr. Kola), Atlanta, USA- 2007;

Others are: Collection of Paintings (By Alani Ogunlade), State Farm Insurance Agent, Atlanta, Georgia, USA- 2008; Collection of Paintings (By Nike Arts Gallery- 2020; Collection of Paintings by (BATSADO ART GALLERY) To Akwa-Ibom Government House- 2011 etc.

My works are also in a Brazilian federal university and galleries. They are equally in many banks in Nigeria. My works have been used for cover books and magazines for (UNIVEESADE FEDERAL DE-MINAS GREALS, BELO-HORIZONTE).

Are there challenges?

Of course, there are so many challenges in arts. If you don’t want to be broke in life, don’t venture into arts. If you don’t want to be poor in life don’t venture into life.
Despite the fact that art gives joy to the artist, the profession is not an easy road to go. Before one can breakthrough in arts, one must have been consistent and stayed in the business for a long time. By so doing, you acquire experience and develop yourself for the market to accept you.
But it gets to a stage in life of an artist that ordinary sketches he makes begin to fetch him millions of naira. That is the stage where experience meets economy.
At that stage when ordinary sketches he makes begin to fetch him millions of naira. That’s stage where experience meets economy.
At a certain stage in arts, you become a millionaire, you pay yourself pension and create legacy for yourself.

What legacy would you leave for the arts industry in Nigeria?

Thank you. In this business of arts, I have just started. I say this because If notable figures in the arts industry like Prof. Bruce Onabrakpeya, Duke Asidire, Kola Osinowo and Yusuf Grillo who are in their eighties are still painting if they just started, then what about a young man like me. I want to be remembered for raising a generation of young artists who are passionate with the business. I want to be reckoned with the uniqueness of my works in the art market which distinguish them from the crowd.

What advise have you for the younger artists in the country?

They should keep working and not relent. The more you go, the more you see. The more you grow in arts, the more you make it. Gone are the days of white-collar jobs in Nigeria. Arts presents great economic opportunity for young people to explore. There are hidden treasures in arts business.