Head and Tails.
BIO 1:
Modupeola is a Togo-born Nigerian of many parts: from an early age, she began featuring her work in art competitions and later honed her skills whilst working with classmates on various art projects at Durlston Court School, England. A self-taught artist, she studied Chemical Engineering and Economics at the University of Delaware and received a Masters degree from Harvard Graduate School of Education.
Head and Tails.
She is passionate about issues of social justice, women’s empowerment, education and the use of art as a vehicle for activism. Having lived in several countries, she draws inspiration from the diverse cultures and people she has interacted with throughout her life. (text Red Door Gallery Victoria Island)
BIO 2:
Modupeola Fadugba is one of the fast rising female artists in the contemporary Art scene in Nigeria. She enjoys using butterflies to represent change, transformation, seasons and the inevitable passage of time. Her works can be easily mistaken as foreign for their vintage look and features of burnt papers and Latin words. In 2014, she won the prize of One Million Naira for the most Outstanding Concept at the National Art Competition organized by the African Artists Foundation for her Algorithm interaction game for young people.
Le Papillon, 2014.
Modupeola explains her attachment to the butterflies in her works, the many cultural influences reflected in her artistic creations and her love for eyeliners. Enjoy.
Are you a full time studio artist?
I am a full-time artist. I also support the work of WAVE (West African Vocational Education), a vocational training platform focused on training and recruiting unemployed young people for high-growth industries in Nigeria and West Africa more broadly.
Papillon, 2014.
What is your work process like and do you have a preferable medium you work with most?
I’m one of the most scatter-brain people I know- much to my own detriment in matters in life, but it seems to work for me in matters of art! I don’t have a fixed process- sometimes, I’m super organized have notes and sketches that I’ve developed over time and execute. Otherwise, I just do what comes to me and that seems to work. I typically work with paper that I burn to create different textures and effects. I also love mixing and working with acrylic colours.
What cultures and themes are most dominant in your works and why?
Because I’ve been influenced by so many cultures, people can’t ever really pin-point any specific culture that I’m trying to depict. Even I can’t tell. It’s like a hodge-podge of European, American, East and West African. As far as themes go, I typically explore themes of women and duality, because we women are just so darn complex or perhaps very simple and therein lies the duality, I guess.
(from TSA Magazine, January 2015)
