IN STUDIO with Sharon Obuobi

In 'A Time for New Dreams' at the Serpentine Galleries, Grace Wales Bonner presents the first in a new series of unique projects in the fields of music, fashion, art and design. In this episode, we get a walking tour of the Grace Wales Bonner exhibition with Claude Adjil, Curator at Large, Live Programmes. The exhibition features Chino Amobi, Black Audio Film Collective, David Hammons, Rotimi Fani-Kayode, Michael-John Harper, Liz Johnson Artur, Rashid Johnson, Kapwani Kiwanga, Klein, Laraaji, Eric N. Mack, Paul Mpagi Sepuya, Ben Okri, Ishmael Reed, and Sahel Sounds. -- This episode was brought to you by Artist Rights Agency, which helps artists to receive royalty payments on works which are resold in the secondary market. Learn more at www.artistrightsagency.com. -- IN STUDIO with Sharon Obuobi is a series about the stories of art makers, curators and influencers who inspire thoughtful perspectives on the world around us. To see more from our interview, visit our Instagram page @InStudiowithSO. Learn more about us at www.instudiowithso.com. -- All views and opinions expressed by guests are their own. -- Cover Image: Darkroom Mirror, 2018. Copyright Paul Mpagi Sepuya. Courtesy the Artist

Ngozi Schommers is a Nigerian-born visual artist based in Germany. She experiments with various art mediums to explore socio-political, religious, cultural human experiences. I met with Ngozi in September 2018, a few days into her residency at Arthouse Foundation. Ngozi invited me over and we had a chat at her space on Awolowo Road. So if you listen carefully you’ll also hear the typical sounds of an afternoon in Lagos. IN STUDIO with Sharon Obuobi is a series about the stories of art makers, curators and influencers who inspire thoughtful perspectives on the world around us. To see more from our interview, visit our Instagram page @InStudiowithSO. Learn more about us at www.instudiowithso.com. -- All views and opinions expressed by guests are their own.

Italian artist Thomas Marroni and French artist Romain Ouanely are an artistic duo called Marroni & Ouanely which they established in 2010. The exhibition 'Cagnara' unveils the Italian-French duo’s latest body of work, characterised by their strict collaborative process where both artists simultaneously paint each canvas using their less dominant hand. This performative practice incorporates the idea of error, scratches and scribbles on canvases recall elements of failure, rendering a narrative of abstract imperfections. I met with the artistic duo on the morning of their opening at PUBLIC Gallery to discuss their collaborative art practice. IN STUDIO with Sharon Obuobi is a series about the stories of art makers, curators and influencers who inspire thoughtful perspectives on the world around us. To see more from our interview, visit our Instagram page @InStudiowithSO. Learn more about us at www.instudiowithso.com. -- All views and opinions expressed by guests are their own.

Adelaide Damoah is a British artist of Ghanaian descent with a compelling body of work exploring themes of colour, race, and gender. Before dedicating herself to being a full-time artist, Adelaide worked in the pharmaceutical industry specialising in a range of therapeutic solutions. After dealing with the chronic pain of endometriosis, she decided to dedicate her time to developing as an artist. Adelaide cites her main influences as Judy Chicago, Jean-Michel Basquiat, David Hammons, Yves Klein, Sokari Douglas Camp, Rachel Ara, and Ana Mendieta. I met with Adelaide during her solo exhibition called 'Genesis' which was on view in London earlier this ear in October. Adelaide took me through the show and shared about her journey as an artist. IN STUDIO with Sharon Obuobi is a series about the stories of art makers, curators and influencers who inspire thoughtful perspectives on the world around us. To see more from our interview, visit our Instagram page @InStudiowithSO. Learn more about us at www.instudiowithso.com. -- All views and opinions expressed by guests are their own.

Arlene Wandera was born in Kenya and moved to the UK with her family before her teens. She holds a BA in Fine Art from the Slade School of Fine Art in London. I first encountered Arlene's work at the Dak'Art Biennale in 2014. On view, was a stunning white painted doll's house with little human figures positioned on the windows, walls, and roof of the building. Arlene also represented Kenya at the 57th Venice Biennale and was in the main exhibition at the Dak'Art Biennale in 2018. She recently exhibited at TAFETA gallery in London so we met to chat about it, and her journey as an artist. IN STUDIO with Sharon Obuobi is a series about the stories of art makers, curators and influencers who inspire thoughtful perspectives on the world around us. To see more from our interview, visit our Instagram page @InStudiowithSO. Learn more about us at www.instudiowithso.com. -- All views and opinions expressed by guests are their own.

Hassan Hajjaj is a contemporary artist who lives and works between London and Marrakech. In his body of work, Hajjaj celebrates his nomadic lifestyle and the diverse people he meets - from musicians, to athletes, artists and performers. Hajjaj is influenced by his love for music - the hip-hop, reggae scenes of London - and popular music of Marrakech. His work has been collected by the Brooklyn Museum, the Nasher Museum of Art, the Newark Museum, Los Angeles Museum of Contemporary Art, the Victoria & Albert museum and Kamel Lazaar Foundation. In 2017, Hassan Hajjaj photographed Cardi B for the November issue of New York magazine. Hassan invited me to his studio and we had a chat about his journey as an artist. IN STUDIO with Sharon Obuobi is a series about the stories of art makers, curators and influencers who inspire thoughtful perspectives on the world around us. To see more from our interview, visit our Instagram page @InStudiowithSO. Learn more about us at www.instudiowithso.com. -- All views and opinions expressed by guests are their own.

Kudzanai-Violet Hwami is one of my favourite artists! Her bold coloured paintings vary primarily between portraits of family and nudes of the black body. She's inspired by Afropunk culture, and creates images by experimenting with photographs and digital collages to paint vivid artworks. Violet has most recently exhibited at 'Les Ateliers de Rennes' - a biennial of contemporary art, 'Talisman in the Age of Difference' curated by Yinka Shonibare MBE. She has also been shown at the National Gallery of Zimbabwe, and the Zeitz MOCAA. I met with Violet in her studio at Gasworks where she is preparing for a solo show there in July 2019. IN STUDIO with Sharon Obuobi is a series about the stories of art makers, curators and influencers who inspire thoughtful perspectives on the world around us. To see more from our interview, visit our Instagram page @InStudiowithSO. Learn more about us at www.instudiowithso.com. -- All views and opinions expressed by guests are their own.

Simon Njami is a legend in my books, or as I put it simply - a curator extraordinaire. He is a writer, curator, lecturer, and art critic. Njami is the co-founder of Revue Noire, a journal of contemporary African art. He has also made history co-curating the first African Pavilion at the 52nd Venice Biennale, and the first African art fair in Johannesburg n 2008. He's also curated multiple biennials in Dakar, Luanda, Douala, and Lumumbashi. We sat down to chat one Saturday morning about his journey as a curator and his passion for the future of art curators and artists in Africa. IN STUDIO with Sharon Obuobi is a series about the stories of art makers, curators and influencers who inspire thoughtful perspectives on the world around us. To see more from our interview, visit our Instagram page @InStudiowithSO. Learn more about us at www.instudiowithso.com. -- All views and opinions expressed by guests are their own.

'Forests and Spirits' is an exhibition curated by Roubi L’Roubi and presented by Foundation Gallery at the Saatchi Gallery in London. The exhibition displays the works of three Sudanese artists Salah Elmur, Kamala Ishaq and Ibrahim El-Salahi. These artists are known to be part of the Khartoum School, an art movement which centred around the city’s College of Fine and Applied Arts. In the exhibition, El-Salahi’s work is a sculpture inspired by the acacia tree in Sudan called Haraz. This tree is indigenous to Sudan, where it is of great cultural, spiritual and economical significance. Trees are also a recurring theme in Elmur’s paintings which present people in different contexts, which are sometimes within the setting of a photo studio or in the forest. Ishaq’s works explore the cult of Zar, a term used to describe spirits which possess people. Her paintings depict ceremonies which are used to drive these spirits away. I met Roubi L’Roubi, curator of the show to talk about the works in the exhibition and his personal connection to the stories portrayed. IN STUDIO with Sharon Obuobi is a series about the stories of art makers, curators and influencers who inspire thoughtful perspectives on the world around us. To see more of the works in 'Forests and Spirits', visit our Instagram page @InStudiowithSO. Learn more about us at www.instudiowithso.com. -- All views and opinions expressed by guests are their own.

Eddy Kamuanga Ilunga is one of the youngest African artists at the forefront of the contemporary art scene today. Born in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Eddy studied painting at the Académie des Beaux-Arts in Kinshasa before leaving to work independently. In May 2018, he opened an exhibition 'Fragile Responsibility' at October Gallery. So we sat down to chat one Saturday morning, surrounded by the works in the exhibition. (This episode was done in French, stay tuned for the translated version to be published on July 17.) IN STUDIO with Sharon Obuobi is a series about the stories of art makers, curators and influencers who inspire thoughtful perspectives on the world around us. To see more of Eddy's work, visit our Instagram page @InStudiowithSO. Learn more about us at www.instudiowithso.com. -- All views and opinions expressed by guests are their own.

This episode is a very special one, as it is my dad's birthday this week! I wanted to surprise him by airing this interview we did last year. SURPRISE! Happy birthday dad! My father, Emmanuel 'Yaw' Obuobi was born in Ghana in July 1957, and graduated from the University of Science and Technology Kumasi in 1986. Yaw Obuobi is one of the most technically skilled colour theory based artists, who masterfully blends colours in ways you can only fully appreciate up close in person. Most recently, his portraits of HM Queen Elizabeth II and HRH the Duchess of Cambridge were received at the Buckingham Palace and Clarence House after being presented to Prince Charles. For this episode, we had a chat in his studio one Sunday afternoon. IN STUDIO with Sharon Obuobi is a series about the stories of art makers, curators and influencers who inspire thoughtful perspectives on the world around us. To see more of Yaw's work, visit our Instagram page @InStudiowithSO. Learn more about us or shop our collection at www.instudiowithso.com. -- All views and opinions expressed by guests are their own.

Dennis Osadebe is a Nigerian mixed-media artist best known for his vibrant pop art. Osadebe’s style is a unique blend of digital processes which he uses to create canvases that are subsequently layered with acrylic paint. We sat down in Red Door Gallery in Lagos to talk about how his entrepreneurial family influenced his artistic practice, and how he feels about African art. IN STUDIO with Sharon Obuobi is a series about the stories of art makers, curators and influencers who inspire thoughtful perspectives on the world around us. To see more of Dennis' work, visit our Instagram page @InStudiowithSO. Learn more about us or shop our collection at www.instudiowithso.com. -- All views and opinions expressed by guests are their own.

Phoebe Boswell is an artist who combines traditional draftswomanship and digital technology to create drawings, animations and installations. In this episode, we talked about her experiences navigating cultural identities, how she explored the use of drawing techniques, and why the creative process has been a personal journey for her. IN STUDIO with Sharon Obuobi is a series about the stories of art makers, curators and influencers who inspire thoughtful perspectives on the world around us. To see more of Phoebe's work, visit our Instagram page @InStudiowithSO. Learn more about us or shop our collection at www.instudiowithso.com. -- All views and opinions expressed by guests are their own.

IN STUDIO with Sharon Obuobi is a series about the stories of art makers, curators and influencers who inspire thoughtful perspectives on the world around us. In this episode, I chat with Serge Attukwei Clottey about the practice of performance as a way of life, traditional gender roles with ancestry, and how he engages his community with his work. Serge is known for his sculptural installations made from the pieces of yellow gallons. In his performance art, photography, and sculpture, he explores personal and political narratives rooted in histories of trade and migration. To see more of Serge's work, visit our Instagram page @InStudiowithSO. Learn more about us or shop our collection at www.instudiowithso.com. -- All views and opinions expressed by guests are their own.

IN STUDIO with Sharon Obuobi is a series about the stories of art makers, curators and influencers who inspire thoughtful perspectives on the world around us. In this episode, I chat with my friend Nengi Omuku, an artist with a fascinating body of work, inspired by the politics of the human bodies, and the complexities of identity. Professionally trained at the Slade School of fine art in London, Nengi has also won scholarships and awards, including a British Council art award presented by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. To see more of Nengi's work, visit our Instagram page @InStudiowithSO. Learn more about us or shop our collection at www.instudiowithso.com. -- All views and opinions expressed by guests are their own.

In Studio with Sharon Obuobi is a series of conversations with artists, curators, influencers, exploring the process of art making. In this episode, I speak with Victor Ehikhamenor, a Nigerian artist who creates paintings, drawings, and installations. He combines patterns with abstract forms to create a unique style of contemporary works. Victor recently exhibited in the Nigerian pavilion at the 2017 Venice Biennale, where his work explored the themes of identity, history and spirituality. As a continuation of this series, his current body of works reference the imagery and symbolism of both Edo traditions and Catholicism. To see more of Victor's work, visit our Instagram page @InStudiowithSO. Learn more about us at www.instudiowithso.com. -- All views and opinions expressed by guests are their own.

In Studio with Sharon Obuobi is a series of conversations with artists, curators, influencers, exploring the process of art making. In this episode, I speak with Adebayo Bolaji, a London-based contemporary artist of Nigerian descent. Before becoming an artist, Adebayo studied acting at the London Central School of Speech and Drama. He performed at Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, the Young Vic theatre, and in One Child - a BBC Two drama. He later became a self-taught artist citing his influences as Francis Bacon, Jean Michel Basquiat, Jean Dubuffet, Cy Twombly, and poet Alain Ginsberg. Adebayo participated in an artist residency hosted by Yinka Shonibare MBE's guest residency, and has had multiple exhibitions in Zurich. To see more of Adebayo's work, visit our Instagram page @InStudiowithSO. Learn more about us at www.instudiowithso.com. -- All views and opinions expressed by guests are their own.

In Studio with Sharon Obuobi is a series of conversations with artists, curators, influencers, exploring the process of art making. In this episode, I speak with Joel Andrianomearisoa, a contemporary artist who works in a variety of media. We had a chat about his experiences as a Malagasy born artist living between Antananarivo and Paris, with the influence of migration and colonization on culture. Joel Andrianomearisoa has been exhibited at the Smithsonian Institute, the SCAD Museum of Art, the 2014 Dak'Art Biennale, and the 8th Bamako Encounters Biennial of African Photography. To see more of Joel's work, visit our Instagram page @InStudiowithSO. Learn more about us at www.instudiowithso.com. -- All views and opinions expressed by guests are their own.

In Studio with Sharon Obuobi is a series of conversations with artists, curators, influencers, exploring the process of art making. In this episode, I speak with Atta Kwami, a Ghanaian painter, printmaker, independent art historian and curator. He trained and taught at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana. He wrote a book titled 'Kumasi Realism' which eexplored the evolution of traditional and modern art in Ghana. His work has been collected by the National Museums of Ghana and Kenya; the V&A Museum in London; the National Museum of African Art in Washington, DC; The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, and The British Museum. To see more of Atta's work, visit our Instagram page @InStudiowithSO. Learn more about us at www.instudiowithso.com. -- All views and opinions expressed by guests are their own.

In Studio with Sharon Obuobi is a series of conversations with artists, curators, influencers, exploring the process of art making. In this episode, I speak with Sokari Douglas Camp, a British-Nigerian artist who welds sculptures from steel. Sokari has received various awards which include the recipient of the 1982 Saatchi & Saatchi Aware, the 1983 Princess of Wales Scholarship and Henry Moore Foundation bursary, and Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 2005. To see more of Sokari's work, visit our Instagram page @InStudiowithSO. Learn more about us at www.instudiowithso.com. -- All views and opinions expressed by guests are their own.

In Studio with Sharon Obuobi is a series of conversations with artists, curators, influencers, exploring the process of art making. In this episode, I speak with Zak Ove, an artist whose work explores and documents the practices of carnival performances in the Caribbean, encompassing sculpture, film, and photography. His artwork reflects an anthropological interest in diasporic and African history, specifically that which manifests itself in the Trinidadian carnival. In 2015, Zak unveiled a major commissioned work in the British Museum called the Moko Jumbies. To see more of Zak's work, visit our Instagram page @InStudiowithSO. Learn more about us at www.instudiowithso.com. -- All views and opinions expressed by guests are their own.

In Studio with Sharon Obuobi is a series of conversations with artists, curators, influencers, exploring the process of art making. In this episode, I speak with Elisabeth Sutherland, a multi-talented artist, who explores performance art and storytelling in her work. With co-founder Emily Pinamang Asiedu, they present a range of traditional Ghanaian stories in new and interesting ways through their platform Accra Theatre Workshop (ATW). Elisabeth also recently participated in the 89 Plus residency directed by Simon Castets and Hans Ulrich Obrist. To see more of Elisabeth's work, visit our Instagram page @InStudiowithSO. Learn more about us at www.instudiowithso.com. -- All views and opinions expressed by guests are their own.

In Studio with Sharon Obuobi is a series of conversations with artists, curators, influencers, exploring the process of art making. In this episode, I speak with Hans Ulrich Obrist who is currently working as Artistic Director of the Serpentine Galleries. Since 2002, he has been consistently mentioned on ArtReview’s list of the world’s top 100 most powerful people. Hans Ulrich has conducted nearly 2,500 hours of interviews with creatives, and initiated a series of 24 hour ‘marathon’ public events. He created the 89 Plus project with Simon Castets, a multi-platform research project which investigates the generation of innovators born in or after 1989. To see more of Hans Ulrich's work, visit our Instagram page @InStudiowithSO. Learn more about us at www.instudiowithso.com. -- All views and opinions expressed by guests are their own.

In Studio with Sharon Obuobi is a series of conversations with artists, curators, influencers, exploring the process of art making. In this episode, I speak with Ibrahim Mahama, one of Ghana’s most celebrated contemporary artists. A graduate from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ibrahim had an outstanding break in 2015, when he was exhibited at the 56th Venice Biennale, curated by Okwui Enwezor. Following this, his work has been exhibited at the Tel Aviv Art Museum, The Broad Art Museum, White Cube Gallery, and Documenta. -- Ibrahim's work is featured in the upcoming sale of Modern & Contemporary African Art sale at Sotheby's on March 28. To see more of Ibrahim's work, visit our Instagram page @InStudiowithSO. Learn more about us at www.instudiowithso.com. -- All views and opinions expressed by guests are their own.

In Studio with Sharon Obuobi is a series of conversations with artists, curators, influencers, exploring the process of art making. In this first episode, I speak with Lina Iris Viktor, a dynamic conceptual and performance artist, and painter who creates beautiful works with paint and gold. To see more of Lina's work, visit our Instagram page @InStudiowithSO. Learn more about us at www.instudiowithso.com. -- All views and opinions expressed by guests are their own.