Chesachi Hani-Okoroafor, known professionally as SACHI is a British-based Nigerian artist. He is the Curator and Artistic Director of Prodigies of Africa whose exhibition titled ‘Infiltration of the Blues’ opens 17th to 30th September at the African Artists’ Foundation Gallery, Victoria Island, Lagos. SACHI 24, who holds a First Class degree in Fine Art talks to Nduka Nwosu about his arts
What is the essence of SACHI as an artist?
I believe that my ethos as an artist is using art as the medium for my biography, taking aspects of all the things I’m interested in at any specific period in my life as well as any moments or memories that I capture, and immortalising them in the art. Using my life and interests in my art, helps me assign value to my memories.
What is your perception of African Art?
I don’t like how the global definition of ‘African Art’ seems to revolve around tribal and native patterns. As an African artist I have never related to or dabbled in that ‘theme’ of art, and never quite understood why it has endured through the decades. In my opinion, the abstractions in many African collections are often stronger and more unique that the literal ‘African’ pieces. These abstractions are doubly powerful because they still feel “African” due to their palette, but in addition, their composition and application don’t feel confined to any geographical location. I prefer to define ‘African Art’ simply as “art produced by an artist of recognised or recognisable African decent”. Picasso is well known to have used tribal African masks as muse in his cubist works, but I don’t believe anyone would define ‘Guernica’ as ‘African Art’.
How would you approach the unique challenges of young African artists?
One challenge that I can identify with is my work being considered as not ‘African’ enough. My problem is not being able to identify what I would need to do to change that perception. Would it be a change in my own style or a question of sticking to my guns and creating enough work that the global narrative is forced to change? Being thrown into the category of ‘diaspora artist’ is a slight issue for me. But fortunately, an increasing number of African artists are veering away from the stereotypical tribal and native representations of masks, pottery, textiles and other symbolisms of African-ness.
What is your vision for Prodigies of Africa?
With Prodigies of Africa, we are trying to provide opportunities for African artists at all stages of their respective careers, through which they would be able to explore themselves via multiple artistic methods of expression. Whether it be painting, sculpture, film, photography or even performance arts, our organization aims to provide the African artists with access to a global audience. Conversely, we also aspire to open a viable route back ‘home’ for African artists in the diaspora who wish to do more art in, and build a deeper connection with their native lands and cultures.
