Meet Asukwo Bassey Effiom | Artist & Art Instructor.

We had the good fortune of connecting with Asukwo Bassey Effiom and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Asukwo Bassey, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Starting a business for me is not just having a service to render, but being able to focus, make sacrifices with commitment and being able to solve problems.

For me, I needed to make noise with my art for those that have been rejected, maltreated, cheated and marginalised based on gender issues, racial issues and other sociocultural issues, mostly in my environment and with time to the world as well.

I noticed that people face a lot of things that they don’t talk about and those things will need total correction, however it’s not always easy. How do we correct these things if we don’t serve as agents of change in the environment we live in, by either speaking or using our trades for the world to be a better place? This is why I’ve chosen to use my art to inspire ignorant people that will end up not think about themselves alone but about others too.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Asukwo Bassey Effiom was born 1995 in Kaduna state of Nigeria, hails from Nsit Atai Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom state, Nigeria. Passed through Kaduna, Lagos and Abuja in his early education stages, graduated from the department of Fine and Industrial Arts, University of Uyo, with a bachelor’s degree (painting major) in 2018. He is a member of the Society of Nigerian Artist Abuja chapter and a gallery manager.

As an Afrocentric Nigerian painter who excels in the use of color fluxibility and the art of transforming natural human forms to abstracted forms with signs and symbols, he explores the unlimited potentiality of chromatic texture and tonal scales, visual planes and volume within a two-dimensional framework. His themes are tied to feminism (treating them equal in the society), African traditional beliefs,music and fashion.

My years of practice has really been filled with struggle, hard work, consistency, trails and errors, and even frustration. At first, my parents didn’t want me to study arts in school, but they saw how passionate I was and they had no options.

My body of work ranges from collaborative performances, group exhibitions and competitions locally and internationally.

I like been intentional and original in my creativity and as such, I’ll love to advise my fellow artist, old and new to keep doing things in the best possible way the can.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Yes! Firstly, I love to appreciate my parents for at least serving as my very first role models and for giving me the necessary ethos and morals I need, to grow in the African way.

My profound gratitude to Mr Roland Goyit, Akan David, Unyime Edet, Emeka John, Idorenyin Archibong, Edidiong Ita, Otuekong Udoebom, Castro and my beautiful sister for they saw and helped my funny and prospective beginnings. It wouldn’t have been anyway this great if you guys didn’t come through for me.

A special thanks to my art lovers that turned into mothers. Mrs Dakota Griffin (Ruby Mccormick) and Mrs Dunke Tostevin for the advice, exposure, support even to the extent of getting art supplies for me. You both have a special place in my heart.
Website: https://pacificpointfine.art/artist-name/bassey-asukwo/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/ClqE9HvAdIg/?igshid=MDM4ZDc5MmU=

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002660734884

Image Credits
Prince Enaholo