For bead artist Adewale Mufutau Balogun, art is beyond passion. It is an avenue to redefine ‘disability’. He is celebrated for his prowess in using glass/sand beads to create outstanding live sized portraits, especially of influential personalities. In this interview with EVELYN OSAGIE, he speaks of his voyage into the arts and his fight to rise above the crutches.
My voyage into the arts
Art is an inborn thing. I have been an artist since my childhood but I became a full time studio artist in 2009. I started drawing at the age of three as said by my parents. I remember using my sisters’ makeup kit (lipstick, cortex, eye pencil and so on) to paint. And I was beaten for it but that didn’t deter me. And the very next day, I would go back to it again. My first portrait was in pencil which I did when I was seven years old and it was my Mom’s picture.
But I initially wanted to be a medical doctor. In fact, I remember drawing the hospital I was going to build. However, I ended up studying Fine Arts at Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH). I am happy that God directed my path to becoming an artist and not a medical doctor because if I were a doctor, I might have started using needles to draw on people’s bodies (Laughs).
My first entitled pencil work was “Refugees”. It was later featured in my first group exhibition with Extremely Talented Artist (ETA), titled: “She’s Nigeria” in 2010, organised by Vanessa Nzediegwu.
Well-known British-Nigerian artist, the late David Herbert Dale, a blessed memory, who I regard as a father, is my mentor. He paid my school fees when I was in YABATECH and also gave me every support to be a successful artist. He was so kind to me. He even asked me to come and live with him. I stayed with him for many years and picked up the interest of using glass beads as an art medium because using beads this way was Dale’s idea and thanks to her only child and daughter Patience Dale for making the environment conducive by taking me as blood brother.
My background
Born in Bariga, Somolu Local Government Area of Lagos, my mother was my first motivational speaker and mentor. She’s always telling me to believe in myself. Many times other children thought of humiliating me by abusing me because of my leg but it meant nothing to me because I had heard 1001 times from my mother and my siblings that I am the world’s greatest. I believe I am customised not deformed (Laughs). My parents never treated me as one with a disability, they gave me and my brothers equal tasks. All these made me believe in myself and drove me aim high.
This should be a message to parents of children with disability. They need to be loved and encouraged. To be physically challenged does not mean our destiny is deformed.
I was not born as physically challenged. It was caused by a wrong injection which led to me losing my legs when I was two years old. But for the efforts of my parents, I would have remained crippled. Thank God today; I can walk with one leg. That was why I initially wanted to be a doctor. But I always like to compete with able bodies: I find myself playing ball and even wrestling with them.
My trajectory with glass beads painting
Our individual’s style is the signature that differentiates one artist’s work from the other. I picked the idea from Dale and was able to bring out my own style. He was the one doing bead art at the time. It’s like using the same medium in different forms. My style is realistic beaded art. My first beaded works are entitled “Safari” and “The Aquatic” both dated 2009. But I started using glass beads to structure portraits in the year 2011.
The first largest beaded portrait I did was my first commissioned beaded work by former Deputy Comptroller of Customs in 2011. The size was 4.5 ft by 6 ft and I did it for #1.8m. After that I started making large size portraits.
My desire was to create something that is not common. What gives me excitement is being able to achieve anything I see with beads. I like to take a realistic approach to art, especially glass beads art. I could produce the glass bead of any object.
The amount of time used in producing the beaded portrait depends on the complexity of the subject or picture or inspiration and availability of the needed colours of the bead, etc.
The challenge encountered
Glass beads painting are a unique medium but very difficult to control compared with paint and some other mediums. And I like the challenge. If there is any mistake in the work, it would be very obvious and easily criticised; unlike other kinds of painting where a mistake can be called a style.
And I like using glass beads for its durability because glass beads retain their original colour, not minding the age, at times painting or other mediums can change colour, fade or lose value with time but not glass beads. It is only fire that can destroy bead art, not even water because it is water proof like glass and glass bead work doesn’t break or drop beads when it falls.
Indeed, it is very challenging, not just because of the materials needed, but the pain of sitting and arranging them one-by-one after first creating the template. And it is capital intensive. At times, one may go hungry because you want to buy some packs of beads. It’s not been easy but I’m encouraged by the excitement of making the impossible possible and being able to exhibit God-given talent. What drives me to be persistent is the amazing result.
Just like the amount of time used to produce a work, the cost of production can’t be also predicted because the cost of materials is not stable in the market. Again, the size of the work determines the cost of production and the complexity of the picture or reference to be done for example – the picture with plain textile or fabric cannot be the same price with the one that wears patterned textile like aso oke, ankara, lace etc.
Another challenging fact is the environment we’ve found ourselves in. It doesn’t encourage creativity. There is no support for artists. For instance, a work worth over N1 million, may be priced less than N200, 000. It’s disheartening.
But I like to look at the bright side of life, even though my work is underpriced; I sell it to them because my hope is to make their homes an extension of my gallery (Laughs). Our works as artists represent us wherever they may be found, as long as our names are on them. And maybe someday, someone who will pay double what this other person paid will see the work in their living room and ask to know who made it.
My most memorable moments
I have several memorable moments, but I still have not gotten over my job of the Ooni of Ife’s portrait. I just love him as a person. I’d followed him closely right from the time they were still trying to decide who will be Ooni. I was happy when he was the one that was chosen.
So, I decided to make a portrait of him using beads. He was so impressed when he saw it and invited me in the palace.
My patrons
That my works are across the globe is to God be the glory. Some are in the United States, Canada and Germany. Most of the influential people’s works were either self-commissioned or by other people. For example, United States President Joe Biden was commissioned by an officer in the United States of America Navy; the work for Mike Adenuga was commissioned by First Bank Plc; and former Osun State Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola’s portrait was commissioned by a group of friends. Also, I did some portraits to appreciate some people for their good deeds in the society or state to immortalise them, like those of the Ooni of Ife, former Ondo State governor Olusegun Mimiko; former Oyo State Governor the late Abiola Ajimobi. I have also finished a live sized one on Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu. I am happy he has been re-elected. I congratulate him and hope to shake his hands someday, especially now that he has been re-elected.
My choice of creating portraits of influential people
Nigeria needs model leadership. I know we are not there yet but we will get there. Let us celebrate oneness in this period of trials and appreciate; those who have worked those are touching lives. I like challenges and I never fear any; everyone has right to his or her opinion but my believe is that, it always good to recongnise the good works our leaders are doing and also celebrate their success in our own little way; not that we should be clamouring for their mistakes only forgetting that they are also human being, that is moved by words or deed of encouragement.
My nuggets of wisdom to aspiring artists
For the aspiring artists, let passion for the arts drive you and money will definitely come. For my colleagues, artist or not, there is nothing called disability. If you can’t see you should be able to hear, if you can’t talk you should be able to walk as far as you can, once you have ability, work on how to make use of the available ability. You have no reason to pity yourself or allow anyone to pity you. Never feel inferior, believe in yourself.
