Matthew Eguavoen, born 1988 in Lagos
Interview
Matthew Eguavoen
Matthew Eguavoen is an emerging artist from Lagos, Nigeria. As a painter he portrays people with a strong personality and a fixed gaze. Depicted against a reduced background, the social context is kept deliberately hidden, making it a subject for discussion. Eguavoen challenges the observer to speculate about the living conditions, experiences and characters of the people depicted, and takes them into uncertain terrain. We talked to him about his artistic position, a detailed portrait of his art you can find here.
by Felix Brosius,
March 14, 2022
Art.Salon: Why are you an artist?
Eguavoen: Being an artist started as a passion for me, before anything else. I get fulfilment when I represent a subject to address issue that are bordering the world around me, I see it as my own way of contribution my quota to the world.
If you weren't an artist, you would be...?
A computer programmer, I have always loved computers.
How would you describe your art?
Most of my works are centered around gender inequality, mental health, societal and political injustice, how it affects us as humans and how it ends up shaping our views on life in the long run. I hope one day that my works will strike up debates that would lead to solutions for challenges we face as human beings.
Womanhood, 2021, 130 x 100 cm
Does your art have a message?
Yes it does, that’s the aim of my work.
What do you want to achieve with your art?
I hope one day that my works will strike up debates that would lead to solutions for challenges we face as human beings.
Which artist or art movement has particularly influenced you?
I love the works of Vincent van Gogh, Zeh Palito, Amoako Boafo and Eniwaye Oluwaseyi.
What has been your highlight as an artist so far?
My career as an artist has taken a positive turnaround last year, prior to 2021 no one knows who I am as an artist, but right now I have both local and international recognition and I am grateful for it all.
What was your lowest point as an artist so far?
I speak for majority when I say 2020 was a difficult year, due to COVID-19 pandemic. Even though I spent most of it creating works, I didn’t sell.
Is there a question you keep asking yourself?
How do I keep reinventing my art. 10 years from today, will my works still be relevant in the art space.
Which artist do you admire?
Zeh Palito
Incidentally, I am of the opinion that...
…everything happens for a reason.
»1954«, 2021, 140 x 110 cm
Matthew Eguavoen
Date of birth: 28 May 1988
Place of birth: Lagos, Nigeria
Place of residence: Lagos, Nigeria
Instagram: @Bartbouy
Website: mattheweguavoen.carrd.co
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Matthew Eguavoen portrays people with a strong personality and a fixed gaze. Depicted against a reduced background, the social context is kept deliberately hidden, making it a subject for discussion. Eguavoen challenges the observer to speculate about the living conditions, experiences and characters of the people depicted, and takes them into uncertain terrain. A young artist from Nigeria with his own signature, whose paintings deal with the central question of origin and identity.
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