Informally trained as artist, London, U.K.-based Lanre
Olagoke is a practical example of how youths, who are at the crossroads of life
can find escape route from the jaws of self-destruction. Currently shuttling
London-Lagos-Harare-Abeokuta and setting up creative empowerment projects for
youths in Africa, Olagoke, 55, as a teenager once walked through the thorny
paths of life and lost his way when parental guidance refused to recognise his
talent. But he recovered his real path through self-discovery on the landscape
of art.
Members of Mission Direct (U.K), led by Lanre Olagoke, working as art charity group at Mutazi Falls, Honde Valley, Zimbabwe, August 2017 |
From being on the wrong side of acceptable
moral values in his place of birth in the U.K. and getting opportunity to be a
studio assistant to one of Africa's top modernists, Olagoke has every reason to
give back to his immediate environment. Five young Nigerians - across
the arts discipline - would benefit from ‘Open Door’ project, Olagoke disclosed during a chat recently. The ‘Open Door’ project, which germinated from the artist's personal and professional experience in the U.K., he said, "was designed for youths to rescue them from crimes."
the arts discipline - would benefit from ‘Open Door’ project, Olagoke disclosed during a chat recently. The ‘Open Door’ project, which germinated from the artist's personal and professional experience in the U.K., he said, "was designed for youths to rescue them from crimes."
Before ‘Open Door’ was launched, Olagoke
founded a charity group, Art-Alive Arts Trust, with several thousands of youth
beneficiaries and Soho Arts Fair, also aimed at empowering young artists, all
in London. Also, a few weeks ago, the charity work was in Harare, Zimbabwe,
where it engaged "75 youths from 1 to 18 years at Orphanage Home."
The Harare work was done in collaboration with a group known as Mission Direct. Before leaving for Zimbabwe, the charity work
had collaboration with a Lagos-based not-for-profit group, Omoba Yemisi Shyllon
Art Foundation (OYASAF). The project with Prince Yemisi Shyllon's OYASAF
involved 25 upcoming Nigerian artists with the Turkish School, at Ikeja in
Lagos.
Art, for Olagoke's parents, was never in the
radar of possible professions, particularly growing up in a middle class
Nigerian family. "And you dare not mention you want to be an artist,"
Olagoke recalled his growing up period. But the young Olagoke knew where his
future would be. "Since I was young, I knew I had this gift and it was
with colours; there is something about colours that I just couldn't explain
that changed the whole conversation for me."
At seven, he
set out on the rudiments of draughtsmanship. Sadly, no one was interested in
young Olagoke's prospect until he was a teenager. "The only time I got my
first compliment was in secondary school, when my art teacher called me aside
one day and told me: 'Lanre, you are very talented!"
Despite further hostilities towards his
creative prospects, the encouragement he got from his secondary school year was
the fuel available to keep the flame of art passion in him burning. From an
attempt at enrolling at army school in Nigeria, to going back for study in
England, art would be the final destination for Olagoke. For not being submissive
to the dictate of his mother to study Economics, it meant he had to leave home.
"I eventually became homeless and started squatting in a hostel,"
where he stuck to his painting constantly "letting out all my emotion,
pain, rejection" on the canvas.
He stayed away
from home in 1989/90, squatted with friends and by 1992-1995, he had become
homeless. "When I eventually got a place, I was kicked out again and put
in Parker Street hostel, Holborn in 1996-1997.”
Part of that
hostile journey, he explained, was living in the den of drug addicts, where
death became as cheap as in animal slaughterhouse. Art, he said, became
"my salvation, rehabilitation" in an environment infested with drug
addicts. "I always had my shower in a swimming pool where I paid £1 at Parker
Street hostel in Holborn from 1996-1997, as the state of the cubicle showers in
the hostel was like hell: littered with syringes, needles... all around
you." More scarily, he recalled how the “hostel recorded deaths of drug
addicts nearly everyday."
However, Olagoke kept his head above the
troubled waters of hard crime despite being exposed to the volatile and hostile
environment. "Fortunately, I was never in prison, committed any crime nor
did I have any criminal record," he boasted. "All I wanted was
freedom and I had it; but drugs and gambling were my worse enemies."
THE other side to the coin of life for Olagoke was
being privileged to be a studio assistant to one of Africa's greatest artists,
late Prof. Ben Enwonwu. Perhaps, Olagoke's experience of working with Enwonwu
would change the common narrative being circulated in Nigerian art parlance
about the late master. Enwonwu was widely believed to have built an
aristocratic aura around his personal and professional life such that 'he was
not accessible,' so many followers of his career would argue.
How did Olagoke find his way into Enwonwu's
studio in 1983? "Apparently, he doesn't allow anybody to be around him,
but somehow he allowed me." Then, Olagoke had got hints that Enwonwu
wanted a young artist who would assist in both studio and domestic needs.
"I found myself inside Enwonwu's studio at Swiss Cottage in 1983."
Lanre Olagoke, receiving a gift from Prof. Ebun Clark, in Lagos |
Olagoke must have been stunned: "I was
like: 'I don't know...’ and that was how I started a great relationship as his protégé!"
Again, some art historians and enthusiasts,
who have fixed thoughts about Enwonwu might need to consult Olagoke and get a
balance view of the late master's life.
"I once took him to my mother for
lunch," Olagoke disclosed what was then another surprise to him. "I
was surprised that he came, and my mother made him food that I took to his
studio." Most importantly for Olagoke, "Enwonwu has been one of the
biggest mentors in my life when I most needed a direction."
The relationship was, however, suspended in
1987, when Enwonwu returned to Nigeria. Staying back in the U.K., Olagoke stumbled
on what would later be his main focus till date - using his art for charity. An
Irishman, who claimed to be in and out of prison for 20 years, had some advice
for Olagoke.
He recalls, "I told him I am an artist.
He said something that changed my life. He said, as an artist, they need me at
the prison. And that was it for me."
The charity art of Olagoke took off from
Wandsworth Prison, where "I spoke to over 50 men."
Enthused about
the new calling, he set up a charity organisation called Art-Alive Arts Trust.
At the last count, the trust, he claimed "has worked with over 10,000
youths over the last two decades."
Pushed further, he set up what he describes as
the "first ever Soho Arts Fair," a space for young artists to exhibit
in the heart of London. The charity work has taken him beyond its birthplace as
well as afforded the founder opportunity to engage with professionals and leaders
from different parts of the world. For example, early this year he had an
exhibition at the American Embassy in London, organised by EPG Arts.
"At the event, I spoke to over 250
delegates, diplomats, art lovers and collectors during the Black History Month,
February 2017. The event also afforded me an opportunity to exhibit my
paintings for three weeks."
IN Nigeria, Olagoke has been building the charity
structure gradually by collaborating with others. Basically, he has a future
plan to set up a centre in Nigeria that would perhaps be a central point for
his mission in Africa. "My joy is to establish an academy that will give
our youth, especially those who have come from dysfunctional homes, been in
prison or even remand home - a sense of hope and belonging. The centre would be
a place where skills such as shoemaking, weaving, designing/sawing, filmmaking,
acting and painters could be acquired as vocation."
He hoped that between
September and October, "I will be launching a fundraising event for the programme
in Abeokuta at the Remand/Juvenile home!"
Olagoke was
born on August 18, 1962, in London; he has six siblings. His parents left
London, when he was three years of age, and tooke him, an older brother, Dapo,
and younger sister, Bola, to Lagos.
He lamented
having "very hard upbringing" being victim of separated parents.
" I never had the privilege of sitting down on
the table and eating with my parents like most of my peers when we visit them
at their homes." However, as a an artist, he is rewriting his past by
extending love through art to those who needs attention.
Two years
ago, 45 volunteers from the U.K and Jamaica were said to have been engaged under the Open Door project of Olagoke for
rehabilitation work in Haiti after that country's 2010 earthquake crisis.
The artist,
few years ago explained his mission to Haiti. He raised over £150,000 for projects
through Ruach Ministries. Olagoke said he has been returning to Haiti every
year with thirty volunteers and ensured that
the £150,000 they have raised from 2010-2014 helped to build a primary
school and a clinic centre.
Also, two years
ago, the artist said his wife joined him to visit Jamaica, "with 40
volunteers to help and support deprived, disadvantaged and disable
youths."
After founding
Art Alive Arts Trust to provide a broad range of arts based classes and
activities for young vulnerable inner city people, the group runs workshops in
painting and printmaking. Works produced are sold at the Art Alive annual
exhibition, with most percentage given to the artists. "This gives inmates
a sense of achievement and purpose as well as place to go for support when they
leave prison, reducing the chance of going back to crime," he explained
during one of his visits to Lagos. "Art Alive has helped over 5000 young
adults to find a sense of pride and an alternative lifestyle to crime."
Art Alive, he disclosed, also worked with the Centrepoint Soho in London to
develop a programme that teaches homeless vulnerable young people the skills
and value of art.
In specific
terms, Olagoke has a broader mission plan for Nigerian art. Art Alive, he
assured, will promote Nigerian artists in the U.K through "my
galleries," based in London. He also has plans to establish a Museum of
African Arts in Diaspora, to be built in Nigeria.
-Tajudeen Sowole
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