Main content

How a chance listen to Radio 1 changed my life

Ade Adesina gave up studying finance to dedicate his life to making these stunning prints.

Ade Adesina is a traditional printmaker, painter and sculptor with a modern twist. Originally from Nigeria, he moved to Aberdeen in 2008.

“I grew up in Ebada, close to Lagos. I’ve always been drawing, making stuff.â€

His decision to become an artist was made one night in 2006:

“I was working night shift in ASDA, I remember because the world cup was on. When we worked night shift we would always listen to the radio. This DJ would have young kids on doing Grime, freestyling – one was called Chipmunk. It was really different from music in Nigeria, it’s mostly American rap and R and B. I loved it.â€

“These young guys on the radio were so good. I looked at myself; I thought I can be creative too.â€

“That day I went home and looked at colleges.â€

“I went to Aberdeen because my friend was studying there and I could stay with him. While I was in Aberdeen I got a place at Gray’s School of Art so I decided to go there to do painting.â€

“My studio in Aberdeen is really close to my house, it’s really great. Each piece takes a long time, up to seven months so I have to do different or I would get bored.â€

Ade works mostly in woodcarving, linocut, etching, and oil and combines his African cultural roots with the British culture, producing work that makes people reflect:

“My work is a visual commentary around the ideas of ecology and our ever-changing world. I am fascinated by how the human footprint is affecting our planet.â€

“In my paintings there is hidden stuff everywhere. I was in a gallery recently and three different people saw one piece of my work and saw three different things. I like that. I want them to ask questions. There’s a lot going on that doesn’t’ affect us because it’s not happening around us. I want to raise awareness.â€

Release date:

Duration:

2 minutes

This clip is from