MEET THE LONDON BASED ARTIST OKOBÉ
THE VISUAL ARTIST IS BEHIND A NUMBER OF SUPERB SHOTS
If there's anything we picked up on quickly during this interview, it's that the visual artist known as OKOBÉ trusts in his vision. Whether that means hopping on a plane and moving to West Africa to make a film or capturing an awe inspiring shot, he does not overthink, he picks up his camera and gets it done. Perhaps it's this instinctive way of creating that's landed his film in over 15 film festivals worldwide, and his photography recognized as one of the twelve best portraits of the year by the World Photo Organization. We chatted with the Barcelona born, London based artist about his process, his background, and his future plans.
1. FIRST OFF, YOUR WORK IS STUNNING, MAN. WHAT IS YOUR BACKGROUND IN VISUAL ARTS? WERE YOU FORMALLY TRAINED OR SELF TAUGHT?
Thanks a lot. I have no background in visual arts, just a need to express myself. I started two years ago with my photography and four years ago, I did my first movie. I have never studied but as I said, art can come through technique or thought, your soul and a real need to express your own vision. I guess mine has started with the second one, and I have learned my technique observing my subjects.
2. YOUR FILM 'GALSEN. THE LANGUAGE OF SOULS' LOOKS GREAT. WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO TELL THAT STORY IN PARTICULAR?
What inspired me was the need to tell my story and my own vision of my reality being able to project my music and also other people's music to create that piece of art.
3. YOU SERVED AS THE COMPOSER, DIRECTOR, WRITER AND PRODUCER ON THE FILM. WAS IT DIFFICULT JUGGLING THESE TASKS? DID YOU APPROACH COMPOSING AS SOMETHING DIFFERENT ALTOGETHER CREATIVELY OR WAS IT ONE SINGULAR VISION FOR YOU?
The challenge was the money mainly, it was the reason why I had to learn to do everything on my own cause I couldn't afford a team of people around me. I just grabbed a couple of cameras and packed my bag and got an airplane to West Africa. I learned everything during the beautiful journey of two years making that movie.
4. RECEIVING ACCOLADES LIKE THE ONE FROM THE WORLD PHOTO ORGANIZATION IS AWESOME. WHICH ONE OF YOUR PORTRAITS DID THEY CHOOSE AS ONE OF THE TOP 12 OF 2019? WHAT WAS THE STORY BEHIND THAT SHOT?
Yes It was a beautiful experience cause just four month before was the first time that I picked a photo camera, I just arrived to London and I wasn't able to do it through my music cause I didn't speak English at all, so the camera was my only way to communicate and express myself and my view of the world. The picture was a portrait black&white of the British singer Laura Mvula at her house sitting on her piano.
5. YOUR SHOT COMPOSITION AND USE OF COLORS REALLY STAND OUT TO ME. WHAT ARE SOME THINGS YOU PRIORITIZE WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING TO TELL A STORY AS A VISUAL ARTIST?
I don't know... It's pure instinct , I don't know how to do it in a different way. It's just me and my view, I don't analyze my art. I have a clear vision in my mind of what I want and I go for it. For me light and textures are very important and also I have to feel the essence of the picture when I look at it.
6. IT'S DOPE THAT YOU WERE KICKING IT BACKSTAGE WITH ROBERT GLASPER AND COMMON. I GOTTA ASK, ANY DOPE STORIES FROM THAT NIGHT?
Yes it was fun, I have been able to stay with them before a few times and it's always fun, they are joking all the time. That day Yasiin Bey made a drink for me and another for him and left his in a chair by me. I was talking with someone and he sat on the drink with white trousers... imagine the next.
7. LAST BUT NOT LEAST., WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR GOALS GOING FORWARD CREATIVELY?
I just wanna be able to keep making art, there are to many things that I want to create, so I just need health, time and a bit of inspiration the rest will be surprise.