How a chance listen to Radio 1 changed my life

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.”

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.”

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

“That day I went home and looked at colleges.”

“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.”

“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.”

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.”

“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.”