Peju Alatise

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. Her work was exhibited at Venice Biennale’s 57th edition, themed Viva Arte Viva (Long Live Art). Alatise, along with two other Nigerian artists, Victor Ehikhamenor and Qudus Onikeku, were the first Nigerians to appear at the art exhibition. Her work was a group of life-size figures based on the life of a servant girl. Alatise was a recipient of the 2017 FNB Art Prize. Alatise cites artist David Dale, Bruce Onabrakpeya, Nike Monica Davies, Susanna Wenger, Nigerian and Yoruba culture as influences of her artwork.

Quotes
From where we stood, earth was a magical gem and most wondrously primitive. And that was until…like every good story told must have a perfect antagonist…man. I chose my cloak, and it informed where I would be planted. The most exotic cloak yes! Black, woman and Yoruba. It led me to an understanding that all cloaks are exotic, mine just suits my personality.
 * I am an alien/sojourner. Sent to this part of the world to work my work. Orun meni tomala agreed with me, master artist to prodigy, that an experience on this planet called earth would be what I needed to find a part of myself.

I bid farewell to Orun meni tomala, till we meet again we embraced and parted. Now, in an earth world with very many worlds within It’s world, I work my work in a strange land called my home Nigeria, experiencing Her lands and Her peoples. My arrival was in the year 1975, the place I would call home was a young child aspiring to govern itself and remain free from colonial masters. It has been 38 earth years since I got here and this hopeful child underdeveloped into an intellectually immature, self destructive being that puts shame to shame. Famous for Its corruption-gangrene eating into Its every existing fibre at the most diabolical speed, it remains my greatest challenge, to stay or to leave. I choose to stay because I am not done experiencing who I am not!

As I work my work, I learn the earth name for what I do is called Art and I, an artist. I am introduced to another world called the art world. Like the bigger world the art world mimics, it has its economics, politics, leaders, king makers, producers, consumers, technological influences, plenty sense and plenty nonsense. The most humorous part of this world is the smoke and mirrors conjured by magicians. I stop laughing when the magicians gained illusive powers to decide what Art should be and should not be. As I withdraw my involvement, I am labeled an outsider and made synonymous with ‘difficult’. Soon when the smoke clears we will learn that what is will always be. So to the magicians I salute with my middle finger. This is a greeting habit I have picked up here and must leave behind on my return to mother ship.

The greatest pleasure I find here is discovering other artists who have visited this strange blue planet and many who are still here. I am also influenced by stories of Yoruba ancestors. I have been directed by the works and personalities of giants like David Dale, Bruce Onabrakpeya, Nike Monica Davies and great Susanna Wenger who have left a distinct trail within the Nigerian soil. Lately, Anslem Kieffer, Antony Gormley, Ai Wei Wei, Motohiko Odani and colossal Do Ho Suh have encouraged me to extend and exert myself the more, for there is still so much to do, many more artists to experience. I am not done living to my fullest potential, I have only dug half a foot into the six feet I am permitted. Now I must dig faster, my cloak is getting older, do not ask me why I’m in a hurry, I have work to do.

Lastly and humbly, if you find my artist’s statement not acceptable with regards to the standard of the art world do excuse me, I am but an alien addicted to the taste of freedom, who knows not better, tired of pretentious artist’s statements.
 * ARTIST’S STATEMENT - PEJU ALATISE's STATEMENT
 * “Every time I try to leave, something keeps pulling me back”.
 * The Africa Report - By Wana Udobang, in Lagos Posted on December 21, 2018 14:09.
 * The amazing thing about Egungun is that it is the most total art for. It engages all parts of your humanity.
 * The Africa Report - By Wana Udobang, in Lagos Posted on December 21, 2018 14:09.
 * I have always been a religiously alert person. But that has never stopped me from questioning the obvious contradictions and hypocrisy within all societies. I started at a very young age to question the society around me about the status and conditions of the girl-child and women - to ask deep questions about my own role in the context of a patriarchally constricted world. Even without radical expressionism, I am bemused by the typical response-accusations of feminism and abandonment of tradition.Within my continent, I think the most pressing challenge will be that of “The Right to Choose.” The right to choose your life, to choose education, to choose health, to choose love, to choose her governmental representatives, to choose who and when to marry, to choose how many children she wants, financial independence, self-improvement, faith, what to wear…and, I could go on. The right to choose is the first step to consciousness/awareness. The right to choose is the path to accountability for with every choice there is a consequence of responsibility. Free will is exercised by making choices.

I must say that I live in a part of Nigeria where a girl can become an architect, doctor or engineer–and, for this, I am forever thankful. But, there is still an unhealthy relationship between men and women, where a boy child is more valuable than a girl child. The role of a man is an oppressive dominance in most aspects.

In general, in a world where inequality of the races and ethnicities is tolerated, the darker the skin the more difficult your journey of acceptance will be, the more challenges you face. The disparity does not end with the skin color alone. There is discrimination amongst black people where the closer you are to the origin of Africa the less consideration you get.
 * PEJU ALATISE'S WORD AT AFRICAN ART AGENDA
 * When you are judged by appearance, this shall make you familiar.
 * Peju Alatise's quotes