CREATING SUSTAINABLE FUTURES WITH NIGERIAN ARTIST MARCELLINA AKPOJOTOR

Presented by emPLE at ART X Lagos 2024, Social Fabrics, Sustainable Threads: Marcellina Akpojotor underscores the transformative power of art and creativity in shaping a more sustainable and inclusive future for Nigeria.

In Lagos, where between 100 and 1,000 metric tons of textile waste is produced daily, Marcellina Akpojotor stands as a valuable contributor to Nigerian society. Rooted in local traditions, Akpojotor's transformative use of discarded textiles in her art speaks to a wider commitment to community, culture and the circular economy. Reimagining waste as a resource, she shines a light on the everyday lives of Nigerian women. Her vibrant portraits of Nigerian women – brimming with color, character, and resilience – serve as more than just artistic expressions. They are celebrations of identity and empowerment.  

emPLE Nigeria is on a mission to empower future generations throughout the African continent, with environmental responsibility  and social impact initiatives at its core. This collaborative project speaks to this vision – celebrating the innovative work of Nigerian artist Marcellina Akpojotor, while offering a striking commentary on the environmental and cultural narratives that define Nigeria. Together, Akpojotor and emPLE invite us to reconsider not only what we create, but how we create, and who we create for.

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Q

Can you tell us about your practise and process when using textiles in your work?

A

The process usually involves getting the fabrics from the tailor’s shop, which then gets into the studio. Then the fabrics begin a new journey. Once it’s in the studio, I transfer the sketch onto the canvas and start attaching this onto the canvas. It helps to create unique textures, these high points and low points that remind me of humans, of people and of identity.

Q

What role do you think artists can play in addressing issues like textile waste and environmental sustainability?

A

In my own immediate environment, I’m engaging tailors and taking unwanted fabric off their hands, which reflects my part in protecting the environment. These fabrics would end up in the dustbin, drainage or landfills if I wasn’t using them. Sometimes they are even burned, which is harmful to the environment. 

Q

How do you hope this project will impact Nigerian communities, particularly in terms of both art appreciation and environmental awareness?

A

I use waste Ankara fabrics that I get from tailors in my local neighborhood. I bring them into the  studio and I use them to make these works. By my usage, and my engaging with these people at every step of the process, they are also learning about the importance of being conscious of their waste in the environment.

Q

What kind of change or conversations do you hope your art will spark?

A

I see my work much like the story of Nigeria. Approaching my work, you don’t take everything in at one glance. You have to sit with it, and take the stories in. There’s a complexity there. Like Nigeria, there are many parts that make the whole. That’s how I hope others will see my work – creating a new vision of Nigeria, for Nigerians, by Nigerians.