Why I love the colour, black – Affen Ojo

Affen Oluwasegun Ojo is a Nigerian-based contemporary artist more popularly known as Ojayartworksng. His works have become very popular on social media where he has a large following who appreciate his unique black portraits of African women. He speaks about his love for the colour black and why he loves to create pieces on African […]

Affen Oluwasegun Ojo is a Nigerian-based contemporary artist more popularly known as Ojayartworksng. His works have become very popular on social media where he has a large following who appreciate his unique black portraits of African women. He speaks about his love for the colour black and why he loves to create pieces on African women.

What’s your relationship with the colour black? It features very prominently in your works.

The color black for me, represents where I am from and that’s why it features in almost every of my paintings. It is significant.

What was the motivation to go into visual arts?

I am motivated by the black culture and traditions. Most especially African women. My paintings tell stories about them and their struggles. My works tell stories of their cultures and also the narratives of their past and present struggles.

You have quite a unique approach to your work. Please tell us about your style.

The Affen Segun style is basically one that I had been trying to figure out, for a very long time. Then one day, I decided to put to play my idea, when I decided on my first creativity project which I titled ‘Mama Africa.’ I chose to use acrylic and ankara fabric on a canvas as my medium of expression.

When I look through your works, women and their head covers – whether as scarves or their hair – seem to be your preferred pieces to create. Am I right and is there any particular reason for this, if I am?

Basically, why I use the head wraps is because various black women come from different tribes and the use of vibrant head wraps signifies a crown. Also, black women tie this head wraps in a different way depending on their affiliations or sometimes fashion modes. So, each queen wears their crowns in a different way. I consider every woman a queen.

Are portraits the only things you do?

No, I don’t only do portraits. I also make abstract paintings, landscape and screen printing. I also make live paintings at events and other art forms.

You recently did an upside-down piece of Ido West in five minutes. Please tell us how you managed that.

(Smile) A few weeks before the event, I got a direct message from the president of DMW (Davido Music Worldwide) telling me about a pop up that was coming up. He said he would love for me to showcase my talent at the event and that was how I got to do the piece.

Please tell us about your piece ‘Racism?’

‘Racism’ was inspired by what I experienced. One faithful Saturday, I normally go out jogging before going to play football. On this day, while I was jogging, I saw a black lady jogging and a white lady was also jogging towards the direction of the black lady. Then the white lady’s water bottle dropped. As the black lady was about to pick it up for her, the next thing I heard was ‘don’t you dare touch my stuff, you black monkey.’ I was touched! To be very honest, that was the first time of my witnessing racism. So, I then thought to myself, ‘why not make a painting out of this experience?’ That was how the painting ‘Racism’ was created.

In your works, the woman has a headgear on, an afro, natural braids/plats or a funky haircut. What’s on your mind when you’re creating these pieces?

Whenever I make these paintings, I am always happy because I know that I am not only doing them for myself. I am using my paintings to touch lives and preach through them, as well.

What themes do you enjoy working on and why?

I enjoyed working on ‘Mama Africa’ not because it was my first project but because I dedicated it to my late mum. She was a strong, brilliant, intelligent, hardworking, beautiful, loving and caring woman.  I also enjoyed painting ‘Motherhood’ too, because it reminds me of what every mother goes through to make sure their sons and daughters get a better life. Kudos to every mother around the world.

As an artist, please tell us three main habits that have brought you thus far.

Patience, hard work and consistency are three things that have helped me.

Has the social media played any role towards enhancing your work?

Yes, social media has helped me in so many ways. Some of my friends repost my works which make me gain new audiences, every time they do so. Also, big art pages repost my works too. I get messages from galleries outside Nigeria that want to exhibit my works and things like that.

Who or what has had the most impact on what you do?

A lot of people have made immense impact on what I do. First of all, is my family and second of all is my girlfriend. There are also my celebrity brothers, Davido, Mayorkun, Dremo, Reekado Banks, Perruzzi and also Bettershared. I thank God for them all.

What other art forms are you interested in?

I would say sculpture.