Conversations in Creativity: Adaesi Ukairo
30 September 2024 by Ed
We continue our curated programme for Black History Month UK with a series of Conversations in Creativity feature interviews with some of the individuals connected to our collaboration with The Black Artisans Exhibition and events at Haworth Art Gallery. We launch with Adaesi Ukairo (Metalwork Artist).
Adaesi Ukairo works as a sculptural artist in copper and brass. Using hammers and forming stakes she moulds her metal into abstract, free flowing forms, creating distinct, highly textured and patinated pieces.
Her work is informed by her embodied self which encompasses her dual heritage and lived experience. Honing her metalsmithing skills over many years has enabled her to express herself intuitively. Her innate sense of space, light and form feed into her physical exploration of the fluid movement of energy.
On graduating from a degree in Silversmithing and Jewellery she set up her workshop in London, exhibiting her work and collaborating on projects with a range of architects and designers. She has since moved to Hastings where the ancient coastal terrain has influenced her recent work, allowing an exploration of themes arising from the ebb and flow of this everchanging landscape.
Ahead of the her Meet the Maker demonstration workshop at Haworth Art Gallery (6 October) we gain an insight into the makers career and creative inspirations.
"I shape my sculptural forms from flat sheets of copper and brass using hammers and forming stakes. Working intuitively, I engage my metals unique properties of malleability and strength to express in tangible form the fluid movement of energy. Emerging over time, these distinct, highly textured and patinated pieces of work act as a meditation and physical evocation of the motion felt in the continuous rhythm and flow of being."
What was your first memory of creativity?
When my mum was doing her teacher training back in the 70’s, she took me to a ceramics class at her college where the students were throwing plates and cups on the wheel, I was probably about 4 years old and this making process amazed me and really stuck in my mind. A few years later we travelled to Nigeria, where we lived in my family village before moving to the town. In the village we watched and helped the women, my aunties and friends make all sorts of things from palm fronds - baskets, rope, mats, and roofing for the houses. Everyday life was very creative.
What was your creative journey to get to where you are?
I did a Silversmithing, Jewellery and Allied Crafts degree at what is now known as London Metropolitan University. My favourite time was spent in the well equipped workshop, I would ideally have spent all my time there. We were taught by skilled crafts people who had trained and worked in the Silversmithing and Jewellery district of Hatton Garden, watching them hammer metal was inspiring. Not wanting to be a traditional maker, I found no work after university. I eventually managed to set up my workshop and took the traditional skills I’d learnt to create my own language of metal manipulation to express myself on my continuing journey.
My commissioned work has been an important part of my creative journey, as it has encouraged me to problem solve and adapt my skills and techniques to a given a brief. The thought process feeds back into my own creative practice.
How do you establish your own style over a period of time, and still stay relevant?
I have a distinct personal style which is not affected by changes in fashion or fads. Having said that I do have an interest in the world of art and design. I like to read about other creatives and visit exhibitions.
Does your work develop thematically, or is it more distinctive and random?
I work instinctively, but often in series of process led explorations of form and technique
What or who has been the biggest influence on your work ?
I am inspired by a wide variety of artists working in many different disciplines, sculpture, architecture, music, ceramics, painting. As I move through the world I gather all manner of influences along the way which feed subconsciously into my creative practise.
What inspires you or provokes the motivation towards creativity within?
I have a real passion and need to create my work as it is an important form of communication for me, to express my thoughts, feelings and interpretations of the world around me. What still astounds me is that a sculpture can become a vessel imbued with so many different ideas, thoughts and feelings which can be recognized or interpreted by the wider public.
Images: Various commissions - Brass mirrors & doors / brass fireplace / Copper bar/lights & verdigris copper panelling.
What is it you love most about what you do?
I love the physicality of making my work, the heating, hammering, and forming.
The contemplating and figuring out. There’s a sound and rhythm that develops from the repetitive nature of my work process which is mesmerizing and opens up a creative response of flow. This is what my work is about, the expression in tangible form of the fluid movement of energy.
website: ukairo.com
Instagram: adaesiukairo
Watch this film about Adaesi and her work
Meet the Makers & Workshop Demonstrations:
Adaesi Ukairo & Judith Annakie-Eriksen
12.30-3.30pm Sunday 6 October
Haworth Art Gallery, Accrington, BB5 2JS
To mark the end of the Black Artisans Exhibition at Haworth Art Gallery we present a day of maker demonstration workshops and relaxed Q&A talks with Adaesi Ukairo (Artist, Metalsmith & Sculptor) and Judith Annakie-Eriksen (Ceramicist). The sessions are FREE to attend but places are limited.
You can register via Eventbrite to reserve your place here - a small number of walk-up places are available on the day.
The Black Artisans
The Black Artisans is a project by Jo Sealy whose work focuses on culture, heritage and age. The exhibition at Howarth Art Gallery runs until 6th October and a series of connected talks and events will be hosted during the exhibition. Find out more on our blog. or on the Haworth Art Gallery Facebook Page.
These Black Artisans events form part of Creative Lancashire's curated programme of events and presentations for Black History Month (UK)
Other images show pieces from Adaesi's four collections; Crush, Miri, Phlat & Undule.