Obayomi Anthony
“I think that art should live and die.”
The Transcript
Obayomi Anthony Ayodele is a documentary filmmaker, photographer, and visual artist from Lagos, Nigeria. He documents and presents stories about his society and culture, to speak on the issues of social justice and cultural preservation of his community. With his work, he offers alternative perspectives to inspire conversations that foster tolerance among diverse peoples and communities. He is a National Geographic Explorer and Storyteller.
Since obtaining a bachelor's degree in Visual Arts from the University of Lagos in 2017, he has gained the following accolades:
- National Geographic Portfolio Review Prize at the LagosPhoto Festival (2017)
- Electric South, New Dimensions Lab participant (2018)
- Taurus Prize for Visual Arts (2019/2020)
- Magnum Social Justice and Photography Fellowship shortlist (2018)
- Foam Paul Huf Award (2020)
- C/O Berlin Talent Award (2021)
His work has been shown at the National Geographic Story Tellers Summit, BredaPhoto festival, LagosPhoto Festival, Alliance Francaise Lagos, Dance Gathering Lagos, African Artists Foundation, The Project Space-Johannesburg, Biel/Bienne Festival of Photography and others. Obayomi has also spoken/lectured at Yale University’s Beinecke Rare Books and Manuscript Library, The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs and The Institute of African Studies, University of Ibadan.
Since obtaining a bachelor's degree in Visual Arts from the University of Lagos in 2017, he has gained the following accolades:
- National Geographic Portfolio Review Prize at the LagosPhoto Festival (2017)
- Electric South, New Dimensions Lab participant (2018)
- Taurus Prize for Visual Arts (2019/2020)
- Magnum Social Justice and Photography Fellowship shortlist (2018)
- Foam Paul Huf Award (2020)
- C/O Berlin Talent Award (2021)
His work has been shown at the National Geographic Story Tellers Summit, BredaPhoto festival, LagosPhoto Festival, Alliance Francaise Lagos, Dance Gathering Lagos, African Artists Foundation, The Project Space-Johannesburg, Biel/Bienne Festival of Photography and others. Obayomi has also spoken/lectured at Yale University’s Beinecke Rare Books and Manuscript Library, The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs and The Institute of African Studies, University of Ibadan.
In this episode, I speak with Obayomi Anthony, an award-winning documentary filmmaker, photographer, and visual artist. Our conversation began with a discussion about his background and journey to becoming an artist, with a focus on the project that put him in the limelight: Bonafide Squatters. Then we went on to talk about his recent research project on Nigeria’s colonial origins where he went into the archives at the Lagos Museum to ask what motivated the Nigeria-creation project. I believe with him that art is a space for conversations, and that art should live and die.
Art should live and art should die.
Art should live and art should die.
Timestamps
01:07 Living with Graphic Designers, Becoming an Artist
09:39 Becoming a Documentary Photographer
13:17 Bonafide Squatters: Addressing Student Housing Issues
20:15 Art is a Space, not a Thing, a Space where Souls Connect
30:06 Cognitive Dissonance in Nigeria
35:12 Technology for what?
43:20 The birds that left home; seeing Nigeria from top to bottom
Full transcript to be uploaded soon.