麻豆社

Ade Adesina is a traditional printmaker, painter and sculptor with a modern twist. Originally from Nigeria, he moved to Aberdeen in 2008.

鈥淚 grew up in Ebada, close to Lagos. I鈥檝e always been drawing, making stuff.鈥�

His decision to become an artist was made one night in 2006:

鈥淚 was working night shift in ASDA, I remember because the world cup was on. When we worked night shift we would always listen to the radio. This DJ would have young kids on doing Grime, freestyling 鈥� one was called Chipmunk. It was really different from music in Nigeria, it鈥檚 mostly American rap and R and B. I loved it.鈥�

鈥淭hese young guys on the radio were so good. I looked at myself; I thought I can be creative too.鈥�

鈥淭hat day I went home and looked at colleges.鈥�

鈥淚 went to Aberdeen because my friend was studying there and I could stay with him. While I was in Aberdeen I got a place at Gray鈥檚 School of Art so I decided to go there to do painting.鈥�

鈥淢y studio in Aberdeen is really close to my house, it鈥檚 really great. Each piece takes a long time, up to seven months so I have to do different or I would get bored.鈥�

Ade works mostly in woodcarving, linocut, etching, and oil and combines his African cultural roots with the British culture, producing work that makes people reflect:

鈥淢y work is a visual commentary around the ideas of ecology and our ever-changing world. I am fascinated by how the human footprint is affecting our planet.鈥�

鈥淚n my paintings there is hidden stuff everywhere. I was in a gallery recently and three different people saw one piece of my work and saw three different things. I like that. I want them to ask questions. There鈥檚 a lot going on that doesn鈥檛鈥� affect us because it鈥檚 not happening around us. I want to raise awareness.鈥�

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