Peju Alatise
Of her least satisfying work, Peju Alatise has said: “Nobody will ever see it. I’ll pour white paint on it and start over. So that does not exist.” The paintings, writings and sculptures that did make the cut illustrate ideas of love, femininity and religion. Most importantly, Peju’s art reflects her own lived experiences. When I look at her paintings I feel like I’m seeing (and sometimes confronting) a piece of myself and a piece of Peju–a woman bold, sensitive and self-reflective. Here, Peju discusses what freedom means to her, the importance of it for African women and how her experiences growing up in Nigeria inspire her artwork. Her criticisms of the challenges facing black women are as impassioned as her hope that we can make things better and that art can help. Although Peju considers optimism her “weaker virtue,” her pieces remind me that hope is not always naive. Peju’s art inspires me to reach for my highest self–and, for artists everywhere that’s just practical.
African women, their enduring strength and beauty, are central to your visual and literary works. How did you come to value your womanhood so much?
Africa is a continent with so many issues derailing its progress in development. There is civil war, corruption in government, poor health care systems, apartheid, famine, poor management of resources–the list is near endless. Amongst the issues seen as least pressing are feminism and equal rights for women.
Only Woman
But, it has not always been this way, not in all tribes and ethnic groups. I belong to the Yoruba tribe from the western part of Nigeria. The precolonial traditions held back then held a noble place for the woman. The economic and trading power was her’s alone as men were prohibited from the market place. You had to respect the one that spent the money on behalf of the household–she was the caregiver in her community and traditional education was her forte.
All that changed with the western ideas of monogamy, the influence of foreign 
religions and the home-economics education. Vanity has replaced nobility. The caring for one another is replaced with suspicion. There is a disheartening loss of self-identity and the confusion of which gods to please. I wish I knew how it all went wrong because I only know that it is wrong.
I am of the opinion that if given the right choices, the woman can completely change her environment to a better one. The desperate need for change and improvement make me value my womanhood, knowing that “who and what I am” is critical for this change.
Can we talk about the creative process and inspiration for the pieces I’ve selected…
- Orange Scarf-First — I like the look of her looking and I wonder why she’s gazing up; I wonder, was she challenged to or was she invited to…
Orange Scarf-First
The orange scarf was my experience at the age of 16. I had gone to the prayer grounds with my parents and I wore this orange scarf to cover my hair and shoulders. One of the attendants was going to stop me from entering the prayer grounds for wearing a brightly colored scarf. I was told I was a distraction and God preferred me to be in black, grey, brown or dark blue. I was given a warning and a book; The book had details of punishments in hell for women who did not live accordingly.
because through it all, I am still here, living my daydreams and trying to do what I can to help use my talents and gifts for good. I am proud to have listened to my true calling in life; the call to create.
How did you become interested in digital art?
