Meet The Artist: Usukuma Essien

My Culture, My People : Black History Month Event at ASCEND Charity UK

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Suksi

Usukuma Essien, known on the art scene as Suksi, is a Nigerian artist with a flair for bold, abstract colour that is translated into urban as well as traditional art. Suksi is a self taught artist who expresses his passion onto canvas, murals , clothing and accessories. He also has an interest in upcycling and is currently working on turning a dismantled bicycle into a wall hanging. I can’t wait to see the result.

Suksi will share his journey into modern art and showcase his artwork while co facilitating an art workshop at an event organised by #ascendcharityuk

He will be using one of his pieces as a theme for the creative session on 28th October, 2020, from 10.30am to 12.30pm.

ZOOM DETAILS – Registration required below.
Zoom ID 82106113431
PASSCODE 919138

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https://www.facebook.com/usukuma.essien

When asked about his influences, Suksi says ” “My art is defined mostly by colours which I generously use to recreate my thoughts on any medium for the world to see”.

For this event and to register for all the other events in the programme please FOLLOW the link. https://issuu.com/neomari/docs/my_culture_my_people_workshop_list_2020.docx

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Street Art

I decided to embark on a discovery of street art when last winter, I decided to stop and actually take in the abstract art that decorated our local skate park in Watford. The park brought colour to the area on a gloomy day.

Since than I have been interested in the ways that producing street art and graffiti can be good for our health and wellbeing.

 

Historically, street art and graffiti have been seen as unauthorised, expressions of opinion by unruly youth against establishment or other issues. I have often wondered how anyone could spray a statement on a bridge over a motorway, without killing themselves. The story behind the “Pies” graffiti on the motorway is far from that. Worth a google.

I have now found that though graffiti still has a negative reputation, Street Art is being commissioned by local communities as art. People are actually using it as a way to get people talking, …social art.

So what is street art? This is a question I have found discussed in conversations, as artistic research and even over a beer in Brighton. Google’s online dictionary describes it as “artwork that is created in a public space, typically without official permission.”

Wikipedia calls it visual art created in public locations, usually unsanctioned artwork executed outside of the context of traditional art venues.

Jean Dubuffet
Hopes and Options 1971 
Tate

The Tate Gallery distinguishes between street art and graffiti. “Graffiti art as a term refers to images or text painted usually onto buildings, typically using spray paint.”Street art is related to graffiti art in that it is created in public locations and is usually unsanctioned, but it covers a wider range of media and is more connected with graphic design.

This spring, I decided to find street art and graffiti wherever I went and to discover the different reasons they were created and whether the process would have helped the artist express themselves and therefore impact on their wellbeing. I also would like to see how having this art in urban spaces impacts the community.

I will be running various workshops based on Street Art from September 2018. This will include site visits, time with the artists, Street Art in galleries and the opportunity to gain Art Awards.

I am intrigued by the level of expertise and skills shown by many of the artists. As I also love abstract, this is right up my sleeves. I also that by looking at the work and trying to “read” them, good conversations can happen, conversations that can support and enhance wellbeing in a multitude of settings.

Details and images from my trips to Birmingham, Bristol, Brighton and Brussels follow in a separate blog. (I just realised all the places I have visited start with B).