Culture, Color and Code - the Visual Language of Ahmed

Ahmed is a self-taught painter who grew up in Jos, Nigeria and is currently based in Abuja. He has a wide range of experience, which comes from his involvement in exhibitions to painting for his clients. For Ahmed, it all began with scribbling and comics in elementary school, but it was not until secondary school that his passion for painting truly took hold.

His work is versatile and multidisciplinary, being constantly shaped by context and location. He's drawn to exploring the diversity of calligraphy, often merging it with abstract styles to create layered, expressive compositions. At the heart of it, his practice is about telling stories, whether through texture, allowing each piece to evolve organically from its environment and intention. He believes that to succeed in the artistic world, your work must be 50 percent work and 50 percent marketing.

What is Your Background?

It is believed that self-isolation makes one realize their intrinsic value. Growing up in the Nigerian city of Jos, a city torn by civil unrest, coupled with segregation and isolation. These are my defining moments. I am a lover of serenity. In it, I find the most fitting atmosphere to paint. The passion and relentless effort of art sprang up in high school when my work won first place during the arts and creativity school festival.

When was Your First Exhibition?

My first exhibition was an open art exhibition held on the 18th of February 2017. It was my debut entrance into the industry as a professional artist. This show was themed open abstraction, the concept behind the subject is the versatility of art and style, representing all and any form of art. It also consisted of pieces of clothing that were designed by in-house fashion designers and indigenous attire makers. The show also included a performance by one of Ghana’s prominent artists Manifest. The performance was a symbol of synchronization of all forms of entertainment in the creative industry.

The exhibition marked my exit from Accra to my home country, Nigeria. On coming back home, I started taking commissions and participating in various joint exhibitions, proliferating my works and increasing engagement.

Commissions?

Having participated in several exhibitions and art shows, I was able to develop a significant amount of clientele that earned me commissions like murals and graphic design contracts for startups. This series of commissioned jobs made me realize how much I needed to acquire a reasonable amount of business acumen. So, after applying for a job, I got hired at a startup company that was marketing computer-embedded devices.

What Inspires Your Art?

For me, my eye is not on the destination, it's on the process, it’s a lifestyle. Inspiration comes naturally, and I have decided to put it into myself. To this day, I believe I am the only person who works 9-5 at a banking job, clocking in at 8 and clocking out at 5 and still practices his art.

Creativity in the Early Stages?

During the interview, we discussed the lack of exposure to art for kids in school, usually the conventional subjects, ie, maths, English, which he experienced as well. And it led to him talking about his vision to have artists in school, letting kids explore their potential in the creative field.

I am a significant member of Art Africa, an organization that consists of various artists who are passionate about bolstering the creative industry. As a member, I have displayed my leadership abilities while tutoring theoretical and practical art sessions with young people and other aspiring artists. We had open conversations and responded to individual feedback. My role is also to create works, host joint exhibitions, and collect young individuals with similar aspirations.

What are Your Goals?

I further strive to be a life-long learner and use and share my knowledge and skills as it relates to my field by maintaining a consistent, moral, ethical and professional manner while fulfilling the duties and responsibilities assigned to me.

As an artist, I look forward to the accomplishment of my short-term goals. Part of this goal is to set up an organization that will create opportunities for creatives. This platform will gather youth with different creative expertise and craftmanship, it will assist them in finding and staying in the right career path for potential development. Also, by giving them the basic tools to kickstart their career without delay. It will consist of a permanent gallery location for the display of works and tutelage. The plan is to also empower young people and offer them coaching to enable the delivery of goal fulfillment by generating employment and motivation to be focused and persistent towards achieving their goals.

Ahmed has had long experience within the creative industry, having been in numerous art shows and exhibitions, commissions and being awarded the Doha OIC Youth Capital as 4th Place. From this interview, it shows that Ahmed is always growing and has no intention of stopping.