Can you tell me about your background and how it influences your work?
Originally I come from Equatorial Guinea, a small island located in the Gulf of Guinea in Africa.
My family left Guinea when I was a baby and lived in Nigeria, in Spain where I lived until my adolescence and I came to live in France at the age of thirteen I think these trips have influenced me a lot first in my approach with colors but also obviously in my multicultural approach .
Which artists have had the greatest influence on your work?
My influences are diverse but I confess that the Spanish artists such as Picasso and Joan Miro are the most notable even if Jean-Michel Basquiat is the one I would highlight.
Share your favorite media with us.
Acrylic on canvas is my favorite medium even if I like to mix with other materials.
The relationship with the canvas is far from what I prefer as an artistic experience.
Where do you find your inspiration?
I am totally intuitive, I let the present moment guide me without question. Like a kind of «automatic» painting.
I take inspiration from my emotions of the moment by letting the canvas evolve, there is nothing defined at the beginning .
Describe the importance of art to society.
I believe that art is unquestionably at the origin of the greatest changes in any society.
How do you define success as an artist?
If the art world looks at my art, I feel that it is already a form of success.
Does art help you in other areas of life?
Yes, especially in the context of unlikely encounters.
How do you develop your artistic skills?
I am very interested in other artists, indeed consistency in work and openness to others help me daily in the development of my skills but being able to be inspired by other artists is also a source of development.
How can your work influence social issues?
I don’t know if my work can influence social problems or not, but I am sure that it is a way for me to exist in society. I think that the vision of black artists from all continents has never been so well publicized.
How are you doing in the professional art industry?
Social networks are a support in this industry.
What parts of professional art do you like the most and the least?
I especially like the moments of creation, being alone in front of the canvas but I am still a very sociable person and I love the exciting and festive side of the vernissages.
What do critics and collectors say about your work?
What resonates the most is my taste for bright colors.
What factors influence the price of your work?
The fact of regularly exhibiting internationally, I think it adds some value.
What are your ultimate career goals?
It’s a complicated job, so making a career while fulfilling myself is for me a very beautiful goal.
How do you manage the work-life balance as an artist?
My son is already an adult, he is twenty-five years old and he is also an artist, so besides having grandchildren one day, I am totally free.
What would you like to tell other artists?
Believe in yourself, be consistent, take advantage of every opportunity and above all have fun.
