Gerald Chukwuma is an experimental artist who works with all materials imaginable. At last year’s maiden art exhibition organized by myusanii.com, he stunned attendees with his colorful furniture wood set titled “Birds of the same feather.” The asking price was N3 million ($9,800). As captivating as the handcrafted table set and accompanying stools were, there is an alluring aura around the artist himself.
Like many who move to the city of Lagos in search of greener pastures, Gerald Chukwuma had great expectations. His specialty was painting, but not long after his move, he realized that there were too many painters. So, he changed his medium to wood. For 13 years, Gerald Chukwuma has explored this medium both in and out and enjoys the ample creative space it offers when compared to canvas. Behind every piece Chukwuma has worked on, his ideology remains, “Art should not only hang on a wall. It should have some functionality.” Describing the thought process behind Birds of the same feather, he explains, “A collector cannot buy all the artworks on exhibition, but he can change his furniture.”
The motifs sectioned out in rectangles on Birds of the same feather are hand painted. Four other artists worked alongside Gerald Chukwuma for a month. Chukwuma’s goal is to employ 100 art entrepreneurs who will work in his billion naira industry in 7 years. His journey up to this point has been impressive. As a fresh graduate from University, Gerald Chukwuma moved to Lagos with N54,000 ($177 dollars). He rented a workspace with 50,000 Naira (163 dollars) and walked home from his newly acquired rental. This was where he sold his readymade artworks from as he worked on pieces that will distinguish him from other artists. All of that was 11 years ago and he has since moved to a large workspace on Moore Road, Yaba.
It is tough running a business in Nigeria’s unfriendly economic climate. Most entrepreneurs are on the lookout for solutions to a never-ending string of problems, which a bigger cash flow can easily solve. “Nobody is telling the truth about what they really did practically,” Chukwuma says in reference to the country’s billionaires. “I want us to talk the heart talk that is the money talk.” In addition to his goal of becoming a billionaire in 7 years, Chukwuma incorporates art commentary in his work. Everyday, a mixed media work exhibited at Art X Lagos late last year sees the artist painting over used recharge cards sold to mobile phone users to top up call credit.
There is no doubt that Gerald Chukwuma is an artist invested in his craft and audience. I wonder what other creative outlet he can manipulate. “If I was not an artist, I would be a cook. You can drive minds in the pot.” It is easy to imagine the deliciousness of spaghetti and cashew nuts or African yam balls cooked to perfection by Chukwuma. “I have plans on retiring with a restaurant you know.” For now, Gerald Chukwuma wants to document the country’s history through art. His belief remains, “No one can tell your story better than you.”
