In art, waste is gold – Daniel

Adakole Inalegwu Daniel is a mosaic artist and a professional barber

Adakole Inalegwu Daniel is a mosaic artist and a professional barber.

He is also an accounting graduate from the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi.

In this interview, he talks about making art out of waste, its challenges, and more. Excerpts:

How did you become an artist?

First, I would like to say that it is a carefully and deliberately developed gift. My kind of art, abstract mosaic art, was borne out of my self-interpretation of life’s events.

What kind of message do you aim at passing across through art to the society?

The kind of society I grew up in, and the kind I long for has always informed what I try to say in my work.

It could be that of hope, light in the dark, possibilities out of impossibility, joy and excellence amidst tears and pain, and so on.

What is the financial implication, especially for those interested in your line of work?

Finance mainly goes into the finishing aspect of the work. For example, the raw material, which is guinea grass, is in abundance and not much gum and paper is needed.

But after you have finished translating your idea on the board or paper you would need to package it.

You would need leather canvas or glass, a good frame, ceiling board or plywood, cello tape, strawboard, top bound or gum and wrapping sheet.

Among all those listed, glass and frame are the most expensive. Sometimes you may spend up to N7,000 for the finishing and sell for between N12,000 and N15,000 only.

How far do you intend to go with your work?

I want to explore every style in mosaic art and show the whole world that there is beauty in waste than we can ever imagine.

But this is only if we think and explore them for good. Nothing is really a total waste, and nobody is entirely useless.

I can use sand of different texture and colour to paint a picture of any city or demonstrate any idea I want.

I can also use broken bottles and pieces of textile materials to do same.

I want to share my art skills with other great artists and spark creativity in many young people across the globe.

I want to coach other people because that’s when I can truly call myself a professional.

The only problem is that young people these days hardly have the virtue of patience and focus as they put money ahead of passion.

Most times, when they start, they easily get discouraged by the high cost of finishing and give other excuses.

What has been your major challenge so far?

My major challenge has been peoples’ mentality towards my finished work.

They seem to place little value in art. After saving money from barbing, I buy materials and then some people expect to get the work for free. This really hurts.

Secondly, I don’t enjoy the spirit of competition and challenge in my kind of art.

There are many wonderful painters and sculptors but I appear to be the only one who is into mosaic art in Benue State for over 12 years now. The friend who introduced me to it stopped long ago.

Finally, there is the increasing cost of materials in the market.

What profession would you have chosen if you had not delved into art? 

Sincerely, whatever I might have become would still have been related to art.

The barbing business I started 15 years ago was out of my love for design and bringing out beauty.

However, I once wanted to be a lawyer and my desire to fight for justice and a better society continues to grow.

I still want to be a lawyer and I’m working on going back to school for another degree, either in Fine Art or Law.