WILSON IMINI | AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH
WILSON IMINI
By Ariel SU

“Stay focused, have a clear vision of what you want to achieve, and be patient. Pour your heart and soul into your work, and learn from your mistakes.” – Wilson Imini

Wilson Imini (b.2000), a young, dedicated artist, began painting in his early teens. Before then, he discovered his talent for art when his cousin, a figure like an elder brother, handed him a pencil and paper with a half-finished sketch and asked him to complete it. For the better part of an hour, he stayed busy with the sketch and completed it.
“I just forgot about everything and enjoyed finishing the sketch,” he said. His talent continued to grow, garnering praise from schoolmates and friends and winning 3rd place in the senior category of the NNPC/Chevron National Art Competition.
Imini’s interests and œuvre now focused on figurative paintings that blend life portraiture with imagination.
The paintings are done in bright—or, more appropriately, bold colors.
There are large swathes of sky and grass, and intense young faces tinged red.

The figures in the paintings are self-assured and powerful, occupying a central world in which all forces and influences seem to belong and revolve around them.
There are hardly any blurs; every feature of the landscape, every facial expression, and every detail of the background is clearly delineated. Nothing, it seems, is an afterthought. Every feature centers the subject and makes visible the world that they occupy. About the subjects in his paintings, Imini says, “I am deeply moved by their stories, the things they have done. Or something about them just strikes me, and I think: This person needs a portrait. So I make the portraits as a gift to them.” The idea of a portrait as a gift is an old one, but a no-less significant one. In this sense, Imini is continuing a tradition of honoring deserving ones.
In his case, the ones he has chosen to honor show selflessness, the boldness of spirit, and the promise of youth. There are portraits of Malcolm X, Barack Obama, Kanye West, and a host of other people whom he knows personally and deems worthy of having their portraits made.

“Red is often associated with danger, caution, blood, and warmth, and I believe that this color can also be used to symbolize the beauty that lies within us all.
As a Black man, I am often viewed with suspicion and fear in certain public spaces, and I want to challenge this negative perception by highlighting the beauty of red in my artwork.
By rendering red in place of the traditional black skin tone, I hope to express my belief that we are all united by the fact that we all have red blood flowing through our veins.” – Wilson Imini

AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH
WILSON IMINI
By Ariel SU

Art Market Magazine: Thank you for this interview, Wilson. Your art is fascinating and gives a sense of the profound roots of Nigerian origin. What can you tell us about the beginning of your art journey? Did you grow up in an artistic family? Do you have an academic background?

Wilson Imini: Thank you, Ariel; it’s a pleasure! I wouldn’t say I was raised in an artistically inclined family, but my family has always supported talent. My parents encouraged us to pursue what we were passionate about, which was the environment I grew up in.

Art Market Magazine: What can you tell me about your Art Journey?

Wilson Imini: During my school days, I began my artistic journey by drawing cartoons and comics to tell stories that were brewing in my head. As I grew older, I constantly sought new challenges and opportunities to take my skills to the next level. This led me to experiment with various materials, such as poster colors, although I eventually had to pause them for practical reasons in school.
Initially, I started with pencil drawings and later delved into exploring charcoal pencils. But, I was determined to continue to push myself further and eventually progressed to painting with acrylics. Recently, in 2020, I even started using oil paints, taking another significant step in my artistic journey.

Art Market Magazine: Tell us about your academic background.

Wilson Imini: I grew up in Abuja and attended both my primary (Home school, Sulejah, Abuja, Nigeria) and secondary school (Federal government college, Keffi, Abuja, Nigeria) there. As a child, I was already drawn to art and spent a lot of my time drawing comic and cartoon figures. This interest continued through my primary school years up to primary 5. I later attended a boarding school, allowing me more freedom to express myself through my art. During this time, I realized how much peace of mind creating art brought me, and I took the opportunity to focus on it even though I was still struggling with my studies.
My experiences in boarding school taught me valuable life lessons, such as independence and self-reliance. Being away from my parents forced me to be self-sufficient, stand up for myself, and to fight for what I believed in. Although it was challenging at the time, I am now grateful for the experience as it prepared me for the real world.
While in boarding school, I sold my cartoons to classmates and friends for pocket money. I cherished the feedback I received from those who enjoyed my stories and illustrations, and I was open to corrections in my English language. I recognized this as a learning opportunity to improve my language skills, and I was grateful to my friends for helping me become better. Even though I was better at telling stories than in English, I was determined to improve, and my friends’ feedback was valuable in achieving that goal.

Art Market Magazine: In your art, we see many motives of symbolism. Like the intense red color (Which usually symbolizes the catholic holy figures) or the halo/nimbus (a representation of spiritual character through the symbolism of light) behind the figures. What can you tell us about the symbolism in your art? Are there more motives, such as the flowers and the clear, one-color background?

Wilson IminiI: The color red holds a special significance in my art. Red is often associated with danger, caution, blood, and warmth, and I believe that this color can also be used to symbolize the beauty that lies within us all. As a Black man, I am often viewed with suspicion and fear in certain public spaces, and I want to challenge this negative perception by highlighting the beauty of red in my artwork. By rendering red in place of the traditional black skin tone,
I hope to express my belief that we are all united by the fact that we all have red blood flowing through our veins.
I create bold and vibrant paintings to showcase the beauty of red and to help others see the beauty in this color too.

In addition to representing the connection we all share through our blood, the red color also represents the common thread of African heritage that runs through our global community. I use the halos in my artwork to symbolize the purity and innocence of the subjects I portray, regardless of their gender or appearance. In a world where we are often judged by our outward appearance,
I want to emphasize the importance of seeing and acknowledging the inner beauty and goodness in others.
Nature also plays an important role in my artwork, as I seek to highlight the beauty of the world around us. By incorporating flowers and other elements of nature into my paintings, I aim to showcase our environment’s loveliness and splendor and challenge the negative perceptions that can sometimes overshadow this beauty.
Finally, I use my artwork to express the stories and experiences of those around me. By listening to people’s real-life stories and struggles, I seek to create paintings that embody and immortalize these experiences. In this way, my art serves as a form of storytelling, capturing the essence of human experience and emotion.

“I use the halos in my artwork to symbolize the purity and innocence of the subjects I portray, regardless of their gender or appearance. In a world where we are often judged by our outward appearance, I want to emphasize the importance of seeing and acknowledging the inner beauty and goodness in others.” – Wilson Imini

Art Market Magazine: In one of your past interviews (for africanah.org in April 2022), you mentioned: “The portraits celebrate their accomplishments and strength of character.” Among these figures are Kanye West, Barack Obama, and Malcolm X. Is your art aimed at influencing and being part of the #BlackLivesMatter movement?

Wilson Imini: I find myself inspired by certain super-black figures who have boldly stepped out of their comfort zones to pave their own paths. Their stories motivate me to push beyond my own limitations. Through my art, I aim to amplify my voice and advocate against police brutality and racial profiling, issues I have personally experienced in Nigeria.
Even though the police officers who profile and harass me are also black men, I firmly believe that we are all equal and that the privileges of race are complete nonsense. As Martin Luther King Jr. famously said,
“We should judge individuals not by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.”

For me, my art serves as a powerful vehicle for my voice and beliefs. Rather than promoting violence, my art seeks to showcase the beauty of unity and love. The red often featured in my work is a nod to the #BlackLivesMatter movement, which strives for equal rights and fair treatment for Black people globally.
I reject the stereotype that Black men are inherently violent and dangerous and instead celebrate the beauty and love within our community. There is no radical way to represent us, so I focus on portraying the beauty that lies within each of us.

Art Market Magazine: Please describe the process of your work. Do you first create sketches based on a photograph? Do you use the technique of dividing the canvas into squares before starting the oil painting?

Wilson Imini: When I am getting ready to paint, I stretch and prepare my canvas. Instead of using a grid or any measuring tools, I prefer to freehand draw my subjects directly onto the white space of the canvas. Once I have sketched my composition, I prime the canvas and begin painting. Although I typically rely on my own imagination and creativity when creating my art, there are times when I use photo references or a projector to help me with scaling or tracing.
Once I begin painting, I immerse myself fully in the process, giving it my undivided attention. Then, when I am finished, I can feel a sense of fulfillment in my heart.

Art Market Magazine: What can you tell us about the “Nigerian art world”? Is it developed enough? What are the struggles of a young Nigerian artist? (Is it possible to create a name and sell your art while you are based in Nigeria, or are most artists developing their way internationally?)

Wilson Imini: We express our gratitude to God for the progress made in Nigerian art. However, we must continue to raise awareness as there are still plenty of novel ideas waiting to be shared with the world. Even if we cannot sell our art on a global scale, we aim to break down these barriers and reach new heights. My ambition is not solely personal, but I also hope for my artwork to represent the face of art and to stand out and captivate audiences. Whether I am in Nigeria or anywhere else in the world, I aspire to break boundaries.
Nevertheless, I must disagree with the statement mentioned above. While we have made significant progress in exposing Nigerian art to the world, there is still much more to offer. As artists, we require peace of mind to create art reflecting our experiences and surroundings.
In Nigeria, we face many challenges, and it is these challenges that shape our art. We need more opportunities to express our history and greater freedom to produce more artwork. It is not easy for most African artists, but your focus becomes apparent once you identify your vision and invest in your materials. By investing in your craft, you can reap the benefits and use your profits to further enhance your skills and materials.

Art Market Magazine: In the past ten years, you have exhibited your work in several exhibitions and won the Chevron National Art Competition. What is your goal? Where would you like to see yourself 5-10 years from now?

Wilson Imini: I have a vision for myself to find happiness in the works of art I have created in the past and to use them as a foundation for creating even better pieces in the future. My aspiration is to showcase my art globally and travel wherever it takes me. I want to share my stories with the world and break through barriers. My ultimate goal is for my art to be recognized at the forefront of the global art scene.

Art Market Magazine: What advice can you give the young Nigerian artist struggling to create his path as an artist?

Wilson Imini: My advice is to stay focused, have a clear vision of what you want to achieve, and be patient. Pour your heart and soul into your work, and learn from your mistakes. Eliminate distractions, find inner peace, and listen to your intuition. Let your creativity flow freely, and allow yourself to be pleasantly surprised by your artistic process. Use your artwork as a medium to express your innermost thoughts and emotions. I blend realism with impressionism in my art to communicate my personal style and message.

Art Market Magazine: Where can we see your art displayed in the coming year? Are there any exhibitions or art fair participation planned? Where can collectors purchase your art?

Wilson Imini: I am excited to share that I have an upcoming solo exhibition in progress and a show at Future Fairs in NYC scheduled for May of this year. My art will be on display at both of these events. If you’re interested in purchasing my work, you can find it online on platforms such as Artsy, Artland, and 1stdibs.

See the full interview article in Art Market Magazine Issue #78