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Peju Alatise | |
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| Born | 1975 (age 49–50) Lagos, Nigeria |
| Occupation | Multimedia artist |
| Awards | 2017 FNB Art Prize |
Peju Alatise (born 1975) is a Nigerian artist, poet, writer, and a fellow at the National Museum of African Art, part of the Smithsonian Institution. [1] Alatise received formal training as an architect at Ladoke Akintola University in Oyo State, Nigeria. She then went on to work for 20 years as a studio artist. [2]
Her work was exhibited at Venice Biennale’s 57th edition, themed Viva Arte Viva (Long Live Art). [3] [4] Alatise, along with two other Nigerian artists, Victor Ehikhamenor and Qudus Onikeku, [5] were the first Nigerians to appear at the art exhibition. [6] Her work was a group of life-size figures based on the life of a servant girl. [1]
Alatise was a recipient of the 2017 FNB Art Prize. [7]
Alatise cites artist David Dale, Bruce Onabrakpeya, Nike Monica Davies, Susanna Wenger, Nigerian and Yoruba culture as influences of her artwork.
Alatise was born in 1975 in Lagos, Nigeria. [8] She and her seven siblings grew up in a traditional Muslim family. [9]
Alatise first considered art as a career at the age of 15, when she viewed an exhibition by Nigerian artist David Dale. [9] When Alatise expressed her plan to become an artist, her father discouraged the idea, feeling that art was a waste of time; he wanted his daughter to choose an occupation that was more economically stable. [2] [9] Her mother, however, supported Alatise's artistic pursuits, as a spiritualist had foretold that Alatise would one day be wealthy. Despite his original disapproval, her father was eventually won over to the idea before he died. [9]
Before pursuing art, Alatise studied architecture at a university, valuing the way it taught her to see and think logically. [9] During her college years Alatise began to explore her interests in art by visiting Jakande, a crafts market in Lagos. There, she practiced various media, including painting, sculpting, and jewelry making. [9]
She began her art career with painting, then branched out to be a multimedia artist, using beads, cloth, resin and other materials. [9] She now works in sculpture, using her art to make statements about social issues, while incorporating literature, symbolism and traditional Yoruba mythology into her works. [9] Alatise is also involved in bead making, visual arts consultancy, creative writing, leather accessory designing, and interior designing. [10]
According to Vogue , "Alatise defines her artistic practice as a search for truth and to this end much of her work centres on women in Nigeria and on the political and religious issues at the heart of the country." [7] Strongly believing that an artist should depict the world she lives in, Alatise strives to visualize social issues of her country and personal experience. [2] Considering the strongly held social views of gender roles in Nigeria, it is not surprising that much of Alatise's artwork focuses on gender inequality and women's rights. [2] Using her art to make statements about social issues, Alatise acts as a creative social activist through art. [2] Alatise's work expands on Afro-feminist views by fracturing the male mould of Modern African culture. [11] Over the years, Alatise's work has put her on a pedestal with many other distinguished Nigerian female artists like Nike Davies Okundaye, Lara Ige-Jacks, and Ndidi Dike. [12]
Although Alatise started her artistic career by exploring three-dimensional illusions on two-dimensional surfaces, [11] she also creates through literature. [9] This combined love of art and literature is reflected in one of her most stunning pieces, "Flying Girls". [1] Exhibited in Venice Biennale, this piece consisted of eight life-size girls with wings, and, according to fashion and entertainment website BellaNaija , is "based on the story of a ten-year-old girl who works as a housemaid in Lagos while dreaming of a realm where she is free, who belongs to no one but herself, and can fly." [1] BellaNaija also states that this piece "addresses the injustice of the present, but through a vision of a safer imaginary future, especially for little girls." [1] Additionally, this work addresses the issue of child labor. [9]
Alatise more directly combines her multidisciplinary skills in her 2013 exhibition, titled Wrapture. This piece combined short stories with sculptures, creating a visual narrative. [9]
Alatise has authored two novels, her debut novel being entitled Orita Meta. [13] A leading voice for contemporary African artists, she has used her work as a medium and voice to address societal ills and changing the stereotypical narrative and ideology. [9] Alatise is a fellow at the National Museum of African Art, part of the Smithsonian Institution. [14]
Alatise's 2011 work titled "Ascension" was sold at N4.4 million in Nigeria's Art Auction, this made her work the best priced among emerging artists. [15]
Alatise received the 2017 FNB Art Prize at the launch of the 10th instalment of the FNB Joburg Art Fair. [16] This art fair is located in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Her most recent concerns include creating artist residencies in Morocco and Turkey. [4] These are places where artists can live and work on their various art projects while being near other artists with similar interests. [9] In this way, Alatise focuses on supporting up-and-coming artists. [9]
In an interview with Aljazeera, Alatise described her goals in these words: "When I look at the standard in which I want my work to be, I look at what is happening on a global scale. The artists who inspire me are [those] whose works engage in a way that either inform or inspire you, [that] talk to the true essence of the human in you and I want my work to do the same." [9]
Peju founded the ANAI Foundation –a non-profit foundation dedicated to the development of visual arts in Nigeria, offering sponsored training programs for artists. [14]
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