In Conversation with: Julius Agbaje

An insight into the inspiration and drive behind this Nigerian artist - one who has had a penchant for visuals for as long as he could remember; a person unique in every sense of the word. He’s got a story to tell, I’m sure you’ll love it!

Note: All art featured in this post was made by Julius Agbaje.

“I’m using myself as a microcosm for a larger audience of people that might feel the same way that I feel. The selfishness of the human thought is that we feel our experiences our exclusive to us. We always assume that no one else feels the way that we feel - but that’s not true. It’s embedded in our DNA to carry similar traits with other people. It doesn’t matter that a person doesn’t share your skin color, your food, your culture etc. There are more people out there that would resonate with your feelings very much.”

“I’m always excited to find out how people perceive my art. I’d rather have someone say my art is crap than it is beautiful…It’s fine art! it’s supposed to beautiful!! But beyond that, what do you see? does it make you think? does it stop you in your tracks? does it get you questioning your humanity? somethithing about yourself, your existence?

When you say art is ugly, it means there is something about it that’s striking, that makes you uncomfortable… I want (my art) to make you uncomfortable enough to notice it. When I started my art journey about 3 years ago, I started off using anthropomorphism. It was controversial especially in this part of the world (Nigeria). One person once told me ‘why didn’t I just make the same thing that everyone else is making?’ - that’s boring. Majority of the attacks I got for my work were from the older generation - it was evident they weren’t my target audience. It made them the most uncomfortable because they had certain ideologies and idiosyncrasies that they weren’t ready to let go of. It was hard for them to compromise, to understand art can be anything more than the visual imagery that appeals to their ego. I got a lot of love to be honest, from young people and people abroad. It gave me a lot of joy explaining my art and talking to them about new things and getting them to see from a new perspective and getting to hear their own experiences as well so I can learn from them.”

“My current body of work titled “50 Shades of Me” describing the narcissistic tendency of an artist:

(This collection) is inspired by a quote by my favorite lecturer back in school: ‘there’s a thin line between narcissism and self-doubt.’ I find it so fascinating because it is so apt - sometimes you feel you’re on top of the world, and other times you’re doubting yourself. It’s really interesting for the work I’m creating.”

“Some of my works for the past few years feature pipes - they’re metaphorical of how humans are conduits that allow the flow of information, the flow of energy - they can resist, hold and control that flow. We sometimes think our activities are inconsequential but in one way or another, they always have a way of affecting someone else. There is always a ripple effect for everything that you do - for every action, there is always an equal and opposite reaction.”

A little Background info:

“I didn’t set out to be artist, I was to be a computer engineer prior to dropping out.” He dropped out because despite being an exceptional student, there was ‘something missing’ in what he was doing. In an African home, dropping out of school to pursue art wouldn’t have garnered as much support as he did. He taught art for a short period where he re-discovered his love for art through studying art books keenly while still working as an art tutor.

On the headless figures?!!:

“I’ve painted hundreds of portraits but it was too mundane, too unilateral. I wanted to defy the norm - the most common art you find is portraiture and figurative art. I wanted my audience to be participant in the art I create. So when I take out the head of my subject, from that moment on, the story becomes your story, you can embody the person.”

On SOCIETY:

“We are all one and the same - regardless of how you look at it. It’s a paradox because we are all one and the same and yet we’re all unique. Like in liquid mixtures- you can extract whatever elements that are in those mixtures and you will be left with water in the end (for liquids containing water) - some liquids are different but ultimately they are all water. Let’s take space exploration - the same people who have managed to mess up Earth as it is in terms of so called innovations that have helped us to evolve to the point where we’re at right now, are the same people who are now pumping all the money that they’ve made so they can go mess up another planet! There is this ideology in humans, that we are the most important element in nature. Because of that understanding, we have disrespected every other element of nature over time, to the point where it feels like the earth is now revolting and some of us are trying to salvage what’s left.”

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On the current art scene in Nigeria:

“It has grown considerably. There is still a lot that could be done in terms of art appreciation on the end of the art enthusiasts, the patrons, the curators, the gallerists. Curatorial practice transcends the whole idea of just selling art. Artists my age and younger are looking abroad for opportunities - ask an average artist my age or younger where they’d like to do an exhibition, they say Hong Kong, London, the US and the likes. Do you blame them? You can’t because the people here are supposed to be our number one fans but they say things like you don’t deserve to sell your art for this amount, you haven’t practiced for so long.”

“In terms of art appreciation, a lot needs to be done in the Nigerian scene. In terms of the artists themselves - I think they’re doing amazing things. There’s a lot of energy in this generation and this flock of artists that I’m proud to be a part of. There’s a sense of family right now that wasn’t there before (in reference to artists supporting artists) - breaking the chains of servitude that was predominant in the art scene in Nigeria prior to our time where you have to study an artist and know them for a period of time before determining they’re ready for the market. The internet came and it just shocked everybody - someone in Australia could buy your work - not caring if or where you’ve exhibited your work - they love what they see and buy it, which aids local artists.”

On the infamous Buhari portrait and political humor :

“The Nigerian political scene is humorous. The reason why the Buhari piece is my most famous work is because it’s the thinking of the vast majority of the youth - I just painted what everyone was thinking (President Buhari as a clown). I was angry when I made this piece because I was one of the people that led the propaganda for Buhari’s election in my local community back then. Stuff plummeted from Buhari’s second term - I was so angry and I just wanted to pour out all my anger on the canvas. I really did not anticipate it going viral, I just wanted to vent. It was exactly how I felt and how millions of Nigerians felt as well. (In regards to the humor): One thing that is true to us as Nigerians and that I try to replicate in my work is our resilience no matter how crazy a situation can be. Something terrible can happen and we’d be downcast, heartbroken about it, but there will be someone who tries to make humor/ make light of the situation and people just sort of relax.

Advice for emerging artists:

Be yourself, be your original self!!! More importantly, be human. If you’re human, it makes everything else easy or bearable, it makes everyone else’s lives easier. The ultimate command in the Bible is to love God, love yourself, and love your neighbor the same way you love yourself. As an artist, you need a lot of love to be able to create art that would make a change, art that is meaningful, art that will outlive you - be intentional about what you create. Oftentimes we create art that is not necessarily pleasant or appealing to us but we do it because it is necessary. Have enough love to be able to do the hard things. I think artists - everyone really is looking for a purpose; I think the most notable purpose we can find is love, and it’s in humanity.

Thank you, Julius!

See more of Julius’ work:

https://juliusagbaje.com

https://www.instagram.com/juliusagbaje/