The second in our series of portraits and insights into our creatives with Nigerian roots by photographer Mark Hill.
“White paint has been used to pay homage to the Nigerian heritage and woad for the Celtic. The explosion of colour behind them represents the Nigerian flag – green and white – while they also represent the Irish flag – green, white and orange. Merging both cultures at the same time…” – Mark Hill
Photographer Mark Hill approached us earlier this year about “a series of mixed media paintings” based around some Irish Nigerian creatives which he had photographed. Wanting to merge the cultural backgrounds of both nations, Hill researched traditional and modern interpretations of tribal face painting from both cultures using “colour to show the symbolism” throughout the series.
This vibrant series fascinated us and also piqued our curiosity about his subjects, their relationship with the city and what their creative expressions are. Over a series of Zoom chats, we discovered each of their stories. You can read more on the thinking behind this project here.
Farouk Alao aka Farouk858
“I was born in Nigeria and moved to Dublin around the age of 8 or 9 where I grew up between Firhouse and Knocklyon. When I was younger I was bullied for my name and coming from a different background, people didn’t pronounce my name properly so I decided to go by Frank for years. Just before Black Lives Matter happened I decided to tell people to call me by Farouk.
“I’ve worked on projects with the likes of Google, Samsung and Twitter. I’ve showed what I am capable of doing without having the connections. I was told by a creative director in an agency who looked at my portfolio that Ireland isn’t ideally the place for me or the work I am capable of doing. Ideally I should be looking at a creative house elsewhere. The work isn’t necessarily reflected here at a high level. That was one of the things that opened my eyes. I’ll go away and do my own thing elsewhere and learn and absorb but at the end of the day I want to come back and spread that energy here because this is home.
“When I was younger I was bullied for my name and coming from a different background, people didn’t pronounce my name properly so I decided to go by Frank for years.”
“I carry my Nigerian background in the clothes I wear which I design under 858. The trousers are inspired by tradition using Nigerian fabric so I wear my Nigerian-ness on my chest the same way I carry my Irish-ness with my accent, for example. It’s an intrinsic part of me. One of my favourite facts is that the patron saint of Nigeria and Ireland is St Patrick! That is a beautiful, telling, story – our flags are similar too.
“I’m planning two exhibitions for 858, one in Dublin and London. I’m also hoping to release some clothes and work towards a solo exhibition in Dublin and more public pieces and sculptures, interactive as well as putting myself out there as available for creative work – web design, consulting…Make your own community. You never know where opportunities may come from.”
Words: Michael McDermott
Portraits: Mark Hill
Read more on Mark Hill’s project and check out our feature on Lauryn Creamer Nwadike here.
