There is a thin line between Love and the Black Arts

Chinwe Chukwuogo-Roy MBE - Self Portrait

To coincide with Black History Month, ‘Colour & Movement’ and Alexandra Galleries are showcasing work by some of the leading black artists in the UK (hosted by Haringey Council). Also organised earlier this month, was a panel discussion about the issues facing black artists, which featured a number of experts in the fields of art, culture and politics. One of those featured is Nigerian artist Chinwe Chukwuogo-Roy MBE. Catch a Vibe caught up with her to discuss what Black History Month means today and just what it was like to meet the Queen.

CAV: You were appointed an MBE this year, what does that mean to you?
Chinwe Chukwuogo-Roy MBE: It’s always a great feeling to be acknowledged for what you do. It signifies that there are people, who, when aware of what you do, are very willing to give due credit.

CAV: How did the portrait commission for the Queen come about?
Chinwe Chukwuogo-Roy MBE: I was asked to present my portfolio for that and consequently was commissioned. It wasn’t just meeting her, which I had done several times before – for instance when she unveiled my portrait of the Secretary General of the Commonwealth, but actually having the opportunity to be in her company over the period of the sittings was massive. She is very experienced at sitting, having sat for over 150 portraits and tries to make the artist feel very comfortable.

CAV: How do you think you have developed as an artist and have your inspirations changed?
Chinwe Chukwuogo-Roy MBE: My inspiration is still basically the same because I see my art from a human perspective and that has not changed that much. Experience in life has added some melancholy and smoothed the edges of some of the anger and intensified the colour somewhat but that’s what makes you who you are. I have worked and developed my competence with most of the different art media in order to learn and improve my creative ability.

CAV: Who are you favourite artists?
Chinwe Chukwuogo-Roy MBE: As a child I grew up in awe of Ben Enwonwu (who incidentally was the first black artist to make a sculpture of the Queen) and have always admired his work.

CAV: Your art focuses a lot on African traditions – are there any other cultures from around the globe that influence your work?
Chinwe Chukwuogo-Roy MBE: There are many cultures around the world that could influence my work and I’m sure have done in some way or another but Africa has so much to offer and lives so much inside me it is difficult to move away from it. But if I was looking it will be to the West Indies.

CAV: What do you think is the state of black art in London today?
Chinwe Chukwuogo-Roy MBE: What you mean is art by black people – there shouldn’t be a compartmentalised section of art called ‘black art’ – once compartmentalised you are stuck in that box and will never be seen as an artist without the classification nor be accepted as part of the mainstream. The effect being that there is art (which is proper) and there is ‘black art’ – this can’t be right.

CAV: Do black artists get enough recognition and support today and why?
Chinwe Chukwuogo-Roy MBE: No there isn’t enough recognition and support but in reality it has changed a lot even from when I started to now. Like everything else, we have to work harder for that recognition – no one will do it for us. We also have to make sure that black people of middle-class and wealthy status, give artists the support they need.

CAV: How do you think the state of black art – or art by black people, today reflects the political/social situation and history of its community?
Chinwe Chukwuogo-Roy MBE: Socio/political art is still very relevant and like a mirror reflects society back to itself, which is the intention, like Sonia Boyce and co did very effectively in the ‘80’s.

CAV: What does Black History Month mean for you? Is it still important and why?
Chinwe Chukwuogo-Roy MBE: I thought Black History Month was to help integrate the history of black people into the mainstream so our history and achievements can be studied in schools but it seems that every year we have the one month to tell our story and achievements, usually to the convinced, then pack it all away till the following year as if we lie dormant for the rest of the year.

About Black History Month Exhibitions in Haringey Council