Nigerian artist paints his passion

By Jenna Smith and ChristianWeek | March 12, 2010

Yisa Akinbolaji could copyright the following phrase: You paint what you are. The Nigerian–born artist's works exude colour and meaning. He paints what he is passionate about, which is many things: people, the vulnerable and Africa to name a few. I was fortunate to speak with Akinbolaji.

How would you describe your style?

I would say it is experimental. While doing my newer works I thought I might like to experience with batik. When I was a child in Nigeria I did a little with batik. I thought this might be a good way of including my African tradition into my art.

I'm glad you mentioned your African style. You have two heritages—African and Canadian—and it seems your art emerges from both.

I agree. I think a lot about Picasso who travelled so much and wanted to bring to the western world these diverse artistic traditions through his art. He wanted people to see and experience what he was discovering. Artists like him, I think, had a call to humanity.

Is that your call? To humanity?

Very much so. I have been blessed to experience traditions in both the Third and the First World.

You are very vocal about certain causes that are dear to your heart, the homeless, for instance. How has social justice transcended your art?

I think of my art as a means of communication. It is a journalistic tool. For example, my piece "Living by Faith" depicts a corner of my city that is pretty much allocated for the homeless populations. The rich do not go there. At the same time, it has been made clear that the poor are not welcome in the areas where upper classes congregate. And so for me, art can be a way of capturing and recording this existence of poverty so that the rich will be made aware of it.

What, then, is more important: the medium or the message?

There is no medium without a message. My medium is unique to me. Developing my art reminds me of a child learning a language. Once you learn it, you can use it for many things. So my art, as a language, seeks to attain a uniqueness that will attract people. Once people are attracted to your language they will listen to your message. They might not have listened had they not initially liked the medium.

Does your faith play a significant role in your life as an artist?

It really does. I want to do something that will please God. I want to do something about people who were abandoned, which I think was Jesus' role on Earth. This reflects in the way I use my talent.

In 2007, you installed a three by 16-foot mosaic Peace and Purpose on the façade of your home. This was no mere decorating device. You spoke of it as a means of sharing and communicating beauty. Does our world lack beauty?

Our world doesn't lack beauty. But we can make our world more beautiful. God is beautiful! When people ask me about problems in Africa, I say we cannot blame God. It's our fault. The same can be said for ugliness. If God wanted, He could send His Son back to Earth to make beautiful paintings and mosaics, but He hasn't. Instead He has given people talents so that we can do this. I see it as my God-given job to make beauty and to make our world more beautiful.

When I installed the mosaic, the whole neighbourhood came out and invited friends and family. It brought pleasure to the community. I thought, this is what art can do! It is a celebration of joy!