Twenty-eight-year-old Ogbeyemi Oladele loves to get his hands dirty with junk objects and uses them to create work of art. He uses everything: buttons, scrap metal, plastic, rubber, glass, car pointer light, jewellery, spoilt generator parts, and colourful accessories. He gives these objects a new life as sculpture, a task that requires a lot of patience and skills. Udemma Chukwuma, who ran into the young artist, writes
DISCARDED materials have always constituted a nuisance in our environment. Therefore, exploring them, in the creation of work of art, will reduce waste,” said sculptor Ogbeyemi Oladele, who has found his path in creating art with junk and found objects.
With so much waste in the environment, Oladele gathers these materials, such as scrap metal, plastic, spoilt generator parts, and colourful accessories; from the roadside, mechanic village, discarded junk area market, dustbin or anywhere you can think of to create his art. He chooses each piece of scrap metal carefully to fit the forms of his subjects.
“Through the research I did, I got to understand that everybody is a victim of the disposal of waste. Wastes are the materials, products or remnants of a product which the user feels (s)he has no further use. I was so much attracted to the waste generated in my surroundings.”
The objective of his thoughts becomes the ability to use discarded junk to create a three-dimensional artwork that will be featuring the elegance of nature. The theme of his audacious art wonder: “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure”.
“My sculpture is an exploration of metal construction techniques. It is welding by juxtaposing different metals as a means of using scraps. It is sculpture by other means,” he said.
His work presents sundry metal assemblage by welding. As an artist, he feels it is very essential for him to provide a solution and solve the environmental problem by recycling subjected and rejected objects by the original owner. He also brims with the passion to express his concept with discarded materials.
“My emotional approach is to use trash to create a sculpture out of nothing; which also serves as documentation and beautification.” “I, he added, “create storytelling as well, engaging the audience in conversation through my art. I use my artistic skills to change the normal orientation to junk, change our state of mind towards waste materials, and give exposure to our understanding of what waste are and the positive impact of improper waste management. The idea? Turning waste to wealth and trash to cash!”
Oladele sees himself as a contemporary Noah. Currently, he is working on a project inspired by the story of Noah’s ark, called the Ark of Metaart.
He declared: “I am an artist diligently obeying the prophecy to build the Ark of Metaart; indulge with the scrap materials capable and willing to listen to me. These scraps will be gladly saved by my Noah Ark creation!”
“My philosophy,” he continued, “is about working in a lineage of remarkable pieces of art that tell a storyline. To create with discarded materials, and to create a feel and forms of research techniques. The stunning, colourful sculptural pieces,” he beamed, “are strictly focused on animal development interpretation, of newest idealistic approach; and they come through the mystery of past events, story from the biblical scenery of the Noah’s Ark.”
Working with found objects creates opportunities for Oladele to carry out researches through visual expressions, to educate people and harness these great economic potential.
“By so doing, I have been able to move further my research on material and also make myself available to recycle all the trash and discarded material from my environment and community – either from the roadside or mechanic villages, to save bare-footed children, who could not afford foot wears predictable outdoor injuries, thus reducing medical tension.”
The outcome of his newest series will be presented in his upcoming solo exhibition, later in the year.
“It is expected,” he explained, “to solve some of the environmental hazard issues that pose a threat to the society, especially to children in the underdeveloped areas. But it will also be enormously beneficial to Nigerian art.”
Ogbeyemi Oladele is from Ikale in Ondo State. He attended Imoye Senior High School Mile 2, where his first love in art propelled him to undergo trainings from a different platform in (2008).
He started his career with the Young Artist Citadel, a forum where he met a different set of talented young artists, which motivated him, to a large extent, to find his niche.
He has also extended his learning to train under the Universal Studios of Art, National Art Theatre Iganmu, Lagos (2013). He was mentored by Fidelis Odogwu.
He acquired his National Diploma with upper credit from Lagos State Polytechnic, Ikorodu Campus, in 2015; and later acquired is Higher National Diploma in Fine Arts, majoring in sculpture, at the Yaba College of Technology, with upper credit in 2018.
His ardent indulgence in metal sculpture, using junk and scrap metal, collides with his passion for drawings, painting and mixed media. Still, this niche has given him an edge in experimental art. He has very bright prospects of blooming, and becoming celebrated as an environmental artist.
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