Festus Kehinde Alagbe: Unmasked Identities

Interview with Festus Kehinde Alagbe

What were your art influences growing up in Nigeria?

While growing up in Nigeria, my artistic journey was influenced by so many experiences like religion, politics, crisis, the economy, culture, and my family experiences.

When did you decide to become an artist?

My artistic journey began in childhood. I was born into a family that holds entrepreneurs and creatives in high esteem. And we’re all creatives. My parents (of blessed memory) were fashion designers, likewise my twin brother. I’m an instinctive artist. I have always wanted to express my imaginations and experiences in a visual form. But knowing that instincts aren’t enough, I joined The Polytechnic Ibadan’s Department of Art and Design as a painting major to be mentored and become a professional artist.

Who was your mentor and what is the most important thing you’ve learned from him/her?

As an intern, I was mentored by my lecturers in school, then mentored by Mr. Ebenezer Akinola, one of the masters of figurative and representational art in Nigeria. Under him, I was taught the rudiments of color and drawing with color applications and all.

Tell us about the works which span painting with oils, acrylic and charcoal to create large scale canvas of predominantly bisected faces combined with floral and abstraction elements. Can you describe the making process of these works?

Most of my paintings are large scale canvases of predominantly bisected faces of different expressions (masks) combined with floral and abstraction elements. I used charcoal to draw and acrylic for my background and oil for the faces (subject) with the intention of discovering the medium that’s suitable for me and not be limited with any medium of expression.

Is there a medium in which you feel particularly comfortable?

I feel comfortable with oil and others.

Talking a little bit more about your work, what is the creative process that goes into bringing a painting to life?

Well, as a surreal artist from Africa, I paint to strike a balance between realism and fantasy, the product of imagination. Recently I have been working on a series of paintings that talks about identity. I believe that facial expressions are subject to the situation of the society. “We wear the mask that grins and lies, it hides our cheeks and shades our eyes,” says a poem titled “We Wear the Mask” by Paul Laurence Dunbar. So, talking about my work, it takes a lot of processes to execute a painting. I try to think and read before engaging into a creative process. Have a mini sketch of ideas to translate into paintings, preparation of canvases, color selection, color application and all.

What themes would you say you work with ?

My central theme is “identity” which involves many things – messages, thoughts, ideas – into consideration.

What is your daily routine when working?

I talk with my family and friends over the phone, including colleagues, artists. Also, I eat and pray.

Do you listen to/watch any form of media while working? If so, what is it and how does it influence your process?

Yes, I listen to worship songs because my inspiration comes from God. It influences my reasoning and perception.

Creatively, where do you see yourself in the next five years?

I will be great, celebrated and be a reference point to society and institutions.