Check Out Emmanuel Olaniyi Abiodun’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Emmanuel Olaniyi Abiodun

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I am a contemporary visual artist, born in Nigeria. Growing up, I was intrigued by my book of Bible stories and Jehovah Witness literature because of how vibrant the illustrated graphics are, to the point where the two books became some of my favorite literature, and I frequently get so lost in the images that I never complete reading the letter. My interest prompted me to begin drawing the images in my notebooks, drawing books, and on cardboard paper. My parents never discouraged me, they were supportive in spite of people trying to dissuade them against my passion for drawing, they saw nothing wrong with my drawings. On one condition, as long as it does not interfere with my studies, it does not prevent me from doing chores; instead, I recall being free to walk into my mother’s shop and select drawing materials such as pencils, erasers, crayons, books, and cardboard paper to sketch. My interest in art was fostered by classmates who would bring cardboard paper home to my mother, ask for my assistance with a drawing assignment, and express how thrilled they were when they saw the drawing. My fine art teacher (Mr. Fatunbi) sparked my interest in art when he gifted me an art textbook.
As a child, I was exposed to a variety of crafts, including sewing (which I acquired from my father), photography, wood carving, and furniture manufacturing. I’ve always considered myself a creative being who, with the correct information and an enabling atmosphere, should be able to soar. My parents, unlike other parents who will impose or influence their children’s career choices, were liberal about the career paths each of us decided to pursue. But not without instilling in the seven of us this passage from the Bible: “The gift of a man makes way for him” and the saying “it’s only over when you give up,” so never give up on yourself or your dreams.
As a teenager, I had many dreams and aspirations that could be classified into two categories: first, I wanted to connect with people from all walks of life and contribute to making them happy. Second, I want to be a voice for the voiceless, an advocate for less privilege, and a representative of society’s marginalized groups. To be able to do all of that, I saw myself as a surgeon, a tourist, a journalist, and an advocate. However, in my second year of secondary school, I realized that I wanted to be an artist. Even though I didn’t understand what it meant to pursue a career in art, I was inspired by how my drawings connected with my classmates and my art teacher’s gift of an art textbook. However, in my senior year, I became preoccupied and decided not to pursue a career in arts because I felt, “Why should I be different from everyone?” Why shouldn’t I be different, and what’s wrong with that? After all, I was the only student in my school who desired to study arts, and I was the only one who took the visual arts exam from both the West African Examination Council (WAEC) and the National Examination Council (NECO). Aiming for a career in art, I obtained my first and second degrees in arts at Obafemi Awolowo University in Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria. I further submitted myself to the mentorship of Badru Temitayo Abiodun, a renowned textile artist, who guided me to gain mastery of embroidery. I recall in school, when people asked if I chose or was given art, I would say, “I chose art, and the arts chose me because it is my calling to create beauty like my creator.” Recently, I was asked why I embroider. My popular response is, “Why not embroidery?” Although I never pursued any of the aforementioned professions, I did become an artist, which allowed me to be a voice for the voiceless, an advocate for people with less privilege and marginalization in society, a therapist, a source of joy, and an inspiration to my generation and future generations. That is one of the reasons why I use my art to commemorate my experiences and the social events in my immediate environment. My work has been shown in several exhibitions in Nigeria and America, and I was recently awarded the best textile and fashion category at the Life in My City Art Festival in Nigeria.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
My journey as an artist has been anything but easy. especially as a young embroidery and yarn painting artist in Nigeria. It was a serious struggle to pursue a career in art and find my own voice. It took a lot of courage, sacrifice, dedication, and unwavering support from family, friends, and mentors to help me persevere. I recall setting out as an artist; one of the major challenges was not doing anything other than art, so at a point I became frustrated when I couldn’t afford my daily necessities. At that time, nobody was collecting my works, maybe because embroidery is an aspect of art that has not really gained full acceptance or because I didn’t put myself out there; I was just in the corner of my studio working. Currently, my medium of expression is painstaking hand embroidery, which requires a lot of time and sitting to accomplish. At some point, my health got really affected due to prolonged hours of sitting. Also, there is limited access to the gradation of different colored yarns due to the unavailability of tones in the market, and there is limited access to importing these yarns on the online market from other parts of the world. This has affected and limited his use of simulating hues. Also, the production process of my kind of work is mentally, physically, and emotionally draining. In spite of all the challenges, I see art as a journey of self discovery. This gives me joy to always create and see my pieces connect with individuals and put a smile on their faces. The sense of fulfillment and strength that comes with every piece is so great.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a contemporary embroidery and yarn painting artist whose works capture the essence of human existence: history, culture, oral traditions, interaction, man’s interaction with his environment, diversity, identity, emotion, economy, and happenings in my immediate environment. The material or medium of expression is yarn, which I have explored over the years to create works that appeal to the sense of beauty in the viewer. My work was inspired by hand stitches and yarn painting technique. I am currently,experimenting and introducing shapes, flowers, insects, and other elements like gem stones, roses, and metal into my work. I strive to create these works and use them as a form of advocacy, therapy, and inspiration for others.

Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the Covid-19 Crisis?
One of the significant lessons I learned was the power of community and support. I also learned the importance of staying true to one’s vision and roots while being open to new ideas and techniques.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artbiodun/
• Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/Arbinibi/

Image Credits
The Artist