I moved to London ()

 

It has been a year since I moved here even though I cannot lay claim  fully to those words as I have been in Lagos half of the time. Moving is heavy!! I am no stranger to moving house when I was in Lagos, I have moved house a few times in my life, a lot more than most people have in their lifetime lol and each time equally emotionally draining and physically straining. So imagine a complete move to another country. Even though it's been a couple of months, it has been a struggle settling into work. Even being back in Lagos those couple of months, work was hard and difficult. Constant moving and change is hard and it affects my work and even the ability to work.

I am in the midst of chaos and trying very hard to settle into this new tiny studio corner lol I have in London, (Gosh the shift of moving from a massive studio in Lagos to a desk corner is not just humbling but frustrating). However there is light and hope here! It is a reminder of my early days and the importance of the desk and the role the desk has played in my art. I actually love this deak, which I built myself by the way. I love to make things and abroad life can make one lazy but I don't ever want to loose my handy skills. I made a shelf too. ANYWAY.....

THE DESK... It is the place where one stops and is forced to stop! Where one is forced to face the realities on ground, it is where one is forced to acknowledge life at its new stage and that life keeps changing and shifts keeps happening and movement and change is constant. Fighting it would not help, it is a point of surrender to what is! This is where my life is at this moment, this is where my art is, at this moment.

Last year, when the feeling of frustration resurrected, by the way I have been constantly frustrated and you would think it is because of the move, not really, it has its part but it was just life. the frustration of someone dying and trying to deal with what that meant, the frustration of Tinubu and his REGIME!!!! and how bleak the future of my home country is, my real home!! The frustration of family drama, the frustration of church, faith and my journey, so the move is just one part. 

If anything the move forced me to confront my thoughts, that is what isolation does. My work has changed too, I am allowing the chaos into my work, my painting style is new, and use of colours as well. I am open to the change, it is not comfortable but I allow it and watching to see what it gives me. I like the new work and I hope I get a chance to show it. 

Best