Aje Samson

Artist Statement

My art is a discourse on two overarching themes- the impacts of cultural evolution in the realms of acculturation and global politics and secondly the mental health of Nigerians.

There are fictional and nonfictional stories of Nigerians who have been victims of mental health challenges- some are now healed, others are in the healing process and yet others have lost the battle, unfortunately. The stories are told in Nigerian pidgin, a fundamental language to live the Nigerian story. the support of the artworks was treated as an element of visual language. They were rendered to look like archaic scrolls with burnt and torn edges. The present is presented as the past drawing consciousness of time and the constancy of change.

The past can be a precursor of the future and every present is eventually going to become the past, and the determinant of the future's present. It's a vicious cycle. It is therefore our obligation as humans to tame the bad and sustain the good.

One important intention is to draw the audience's attention to the mental health of young men. In recent times, there has been widespread suicide among men. Men are presumed to be too powerful and invincible to mental struggles. But the numbers show us differently and my story is to help men rediscover the strength of seeking help. Art is not just a means of aesthetic expression, it can also provide an effective relaxation and orientation to the mind of the viewers. The therapeutic art forms can help a variety of people dealing with depression, abuse, stress, suicidal thought and other mental illness.

It is my uttermost desire, to document original Nigerian stories from real people in real time; stories that will inspire, educate and appraise the quality of African values that are close to extinction. My hope in this body of work is to trigger conversations on how indigenous Nigerian and African values can be imbibed to address these issues that stem from rapid, unplanned urbanization and an ever-encroaching globalization.