Okhiogbe Omonblanks Omonhinimin: Interdisciplinary Artist & Ambassador of Entanglement
“Regardless of where they come from in the world, my people are inclusive, warm, willing to change for a better world.”
Interdisciplinary artist Okhiogbe Omonblanks Omonhinmin is journeying with the 2020 BdA Artist Fellowship cohort exploring the theme “Mi Soon Come.” Omonhinmin’s practice is an interdisciplinary one that uses audiovisual tools. Omonhinmin’s work includes documenting, archiving, and building a collection of the realities of people with Black and African backgrounds and those within the intersections.
Omonhinmin has been involved in the production of documentaries about Nigerian social issues, organizing protests, producing albums and musicals. He has served in curatorial roles, panel moderation, and most recently artist residencies and art exhibitions in Europe. A creative, that also identifies as an ambassador of entanglement, Omonhinmin shared a little more about his approach to art, social issues, and transportation.
Who are your people?
My people are Esan people, Bini people, Edo people, Nigerians, West Africans, Africans, Black & African Diasporic people. Regardless of where they come from in the world, my people are inclusive, warm, willing to change for a better world. My people are multicultural. My people are multilingual, my people are spiritual and non spiritual, my people have feelings, my people have empathy and my people love unconditionally.
How do you know who you are?
By being as honest I can be to myself daily.
When did you know yourself?
My journey of truly knowing myself began when my Mother transitioned from this world. I began to really ask questions. Why am I here? What is my purpose? Who am I? These and more questions help me to better understand myself. But the journey of self is daily. So even though I might know myself today, tomorrow might introduce something completely different from today and so the work of knowing myself is a continuous one.
Where did you find yourself?
In several places, one being my empathy.
What keeps you from moving around the way you would like?
Restrictions that come with nationality, borders, prejudice.
If solely to you, where would you be and why?
Where I am currently, sharing space with my partner.
What memory/ies have informed how you traverse/navigate the world?
The memory of my mother reminds me daily that life is fickle, so I try to be as present as I can be, more love and empathy.
Who or what inspires your art/creativity?
Society, inclusivity, people, individual complexities, space, being from Benin City, oral storytelling.
How did you hone/cultivate yourself into the artist and genre you find yourself today?
I am still honing my art. The strength of my practice sits on the various career experiences I have had in music, film, artist development, being a creative director and cultural production. These experiences have given me the gift of flexibility in the various forms I use within my practice.
What local issue, national issue, or global issue has been occupying space in your heart, body, and/or head space?
Inclusivity, equality, freedom of movement and accessibility, working constantly to dismantle oppressive systems.
What is one major change you would like to see in your local community, your nation, or globally/worldwide?
Equal treatment for all, but if that can’t be achieved can we begin to treat others the way we would like to be treated?
Tell us about your favorite/preferred mode of transporting yourself around.
I haven’t experienced a lot of modes of transportation but my current favorite is my bicycle.
What is one idea/design/innovation that you would implement that would change our experiences of moving about?
The idea, design or innovation that makes it compulsory for every social class to use the same mode of transportation daily.
If you weren’t a creative/artist, what would you be doing?
I am currently not just a creative/artist, I would say I am an ambassador of entanglement, meaning I take every position needed to achieve a said goal, that could mean me being a stage manager, being a production manager or web manager. Whatever it takes to get the job done.
Make sure you check out Omonhinmin’s work during BdA 2020. While you wait for BdA check out more of his work below.
In 2012, Omonhinmin was the producer and production manager for two documentaries that captured the turmoil that Nigeria was going through during national strikes due to the removal of petrol subsidies. The documentaries were received very well by Nigerians because they touched on the core issues people were going through during those difficult times.
February 2020, Omonhinmin continued a stay in Hamburg with a residency at the M.bassy. His residency focus was researching, documenting and archiving the heterogeneity of Black and African life realities in Hamburg. After his two weeks of residency, he had a full exhibition of my Time Capsule and Conversation Capsule.
Ongoing Four Months Residency, Accra-Berlin 2020
Okhiogbe Omonblanks Omonhinimin is one of the core artists of Bakanal de Afrique, the premier global festival of Pan-African Urban culture, community and creatives; see their new work premiering Nov 6- Nov 30, 2020, exclusively on www.BakanalDeAfrique.com.