INTRODUCTION
My name is Abiodun David Banjo, I am 25 years old and from Ogun State, Nigeria. I am a visual artist, director, filmmaker, and content creator; simply put, I’m into everything creative. I’ve been shooting and directing videos for about six years and practicing photography for seven years.
I also create art as a form of self-expression and currently have three collections. My style is psychological art; I explore the themes people often shy away from but that deeply touch the emotions.
CAN YOU WALK US THROUGH YOUR CREATIVE PROCESS AS AN ARTIST?
Honestly, my process varies. Most times, I get an idea and quickly jot it down because I know I might forget. Afterwards, I start thinking about how to bring it to life. For example, my first body of work, Cigarette Stories, came to me in 2023, but I didn’t execute it until 2024, one day I simply decided it was time to make it happen.
In essence, my creative process begins with an idea, then finding a way to approach it, and brainstorming until that idea becomes a reality.
WHAT INSPIRED THIS BODY OF WORK?
It started as a random thought I had while by myself. I asked myself why people rarely have conversations about the phones of those who have passed on. That question became my topic, I wanted to explore the stories of lives lost through the devices they left behind.
In the collection, there is a landline that belonged to an 87-year-old grandmother who died peacefully in her sleep. There’s also a phone with a dent, once owned by someone who died in a motorcycle crash, the damage reflecting the impact of the accident. And then there’s an iPod that belonged to a young person, a reminder that death comes to everyone, regardless of age, and that these devices remain as silent witnesses long after their owners are gone.
WHAT WILL YOU DO WITH THE DEVICE OF A DECEASED LOVED ONE?
I feel that just as people’s bodies are cremated and their ashes preserved, their phones should also be kept. A phone is more than just a device, it carries traces of a person’s life, from their conversations and photos to the small habits that shaped their daily existence. It becomes a part of a memory box for the deceased.
Most humans hold on to their devices for as long as they want to remain connected to others. Because of this, a phone is often one of the most personal objects someone owns. Preserving it after they are gone creates a box of memories, a personal museum that tells their story in a way words sometimes cannot. It holds the fragments of their connections, their routines, and even their silence, becoming a reminder of both presence and absence.
DO PEOPLE DOWNPLAY YOUR WORK BECAUSE OF THE MEDIUM, PHOTOGRAPHY?
I haven’t really experienced that myself. Most people who encounter my work are usually engrossed in the idea behind the collection, and their thoughts often stop there. They don’t tend to question how the work was created. Maybe that’s because I haven’t yet reached that level.
Still, I don’t believe art should be limited. Artists should be able to present their work in whatever form makes sense to them, as long as they want others to see and experience it. Art deserves to be believed in, and creators should have the freedom to express themselves however they choose.
Take performance art, for example, through dance, artists create movements that may not immediately make sense to the audience, yet there is a raw expression behind it. There is a true emotion that inspires the work and is meant to be felt. That’s why I believe art should never be caged.
WHAT CHALLENGES DO YOU FACE AS AN ARTIST?
My biggest challenge as an artist is the act of creating, the physical part of actually doing the work. The thought process comes easily to me, but execution is where it becomes difficult. For instance, I’ve had an idea for a piece for over six years, yet I still haven’t brought it to life. I’ve even moved houses during that time, carrying the materials for creating it with me each time. Execution is definitely the hardest part, it takes time, patience, and a lot of energy.
I UNDERSTAND THAT YOUR WORK IS NOT THE REGULAR BUT ARE THERE ARTISTS WHO INSPIRE YOU AND YOUR WORK?
I would say there are a few. One person whose work inspires me is Pablo Rochat on Instagram; his creations are very creative and quite different from what you usually see every day. Overall, though, I don’t look up to too many people. Most times, I come up with my own ideas and develop them in my own way.
WHAT EXPERIENCE DO YOU HOPE FOR PEOPLE WHO EXPERIENCE YOUR COLLECTION TO HAVE?
I want my viewers to experience a sense of realness through my work. I see my body of work as an eye-opener, something that encourages people to be more aware and to tap into their third eye, their inner vision. My goal is to unlock a different level of thinking for my audience, allowing them to see life and its realities beyond the surface.
ANY OTHER WORDS?
Nothing is ever too deep, especially for fellow artists. Life is life, and it will always be life. The most important thing is to express yourself freely and unapologetically. You are you. Take what others say lightly, and strive to reach a place where you can express your own thoughts and bring your ideas to life authentically.
