I'm honoured to dedicate this post to my incredibly talented cousin & renowned Nigerian artist, Kenechukwu Emmanuel Nwadiogbu aka KenArt. I started BLEURGH in University as a creative outlet and I'm grateful for the opportunities it has created for me, and welcome a chance to use it as a platform to showcase other professionals with a creative vision. KenArt falls perfectly into that category; a 300-Level University of Lagos (UniLag) Civil and Environmental Engineering student with a penchant for popular culture and fine art. With his previous work aptly titled 'The Beautiful People' commissioned by the likes of famous author Chimamanda Adichie, music producer Don Jazzy, and Nigerian musicians M.I., Tiwa Savage, Davido, 2Face Idibia and Burna Boy. It is my great pleasure to have the opportunity to share his latest creation with you all and theme this post around what he has called 'The Unveiling'.
Dress : Miss Selfridge | Necklace : Wallis
The Unveiling is a simple pencil portrait of the current Governor of Lagos State; Governor Akinwumi Ambode. KenArt sheds light on important figures in African political history and that is what drew me to promote his latest piece. I have no political interest in Gov. Ambode, but was moved by the humble gesture to immortalise him far before his electoral success, that I couldn't resist tooting his horn here. When was the last time you took a risk, put in the hard work, then patiently waited for the right time to unveil a masterpiece? In our instant-popcorn culture, we have lost the essence of patience, and an understanding of diligence. I, for one, see it and want it...now!
Watching my cousin at work, I see the result of hard work, perseverance, and timing. If a shortcut is taken, the finished result falls short of being deemed a masterpiece. Without critical analysis during its creation, the end result's flaw may become the centre of attention, and an ill-timed unveiling could expose the work to amateur reviews, public scrutiny & a lifetime of feeling inadequate. The work of an artist can be nothing but admired. As a lover of art, I can do nothing more than humbly bow, in admiration of the traits one must adopt to truly create such work. We can all learn a thing or two before unveiling ourselves and our work in future.
The Unveiling's purpose is to create change & touch lives by reflecting who its subject (Gov. Akinwumi Ambode) truly is. He learned through patience and practice, how to perfect each pencil stroke and properly define his subject's rigour, prestige, flaws, and much more. It is in this process of learning that KenArt grew as an artist in his own right, acknowledging his own flaws and carving out a niche for his work in a saturated commercial market. KenArt's hope is that his art will bring an end to the search of light and knowledge, by the wholesome welcome of expressive art defining the meaning of life.
"Vision is the art of seeing what is invisible to others" Jonathan Swift
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