Upon first inspection of the kind of work, Nigerian artist Williams Chechet produces, one thing is extremely clear; it is bold, colourful, full of personality and life.
Chechet, born in Kano but raised in Kaduna, Nigeria, studied industrial design at Ahmadu Bello University. His work primarily consists of contrasts between historical figures and contemporary creative practices, using this as a tool for developing new narratives to otherwise shortened stories.
Clearly a contemporary artist, Williams Chechet combines monochrome portraits of mundane scenes with abstract and graphic illustration. There are clear nods to artists like Basquiat, Picasso, Warhol & Lichtenstein, however, Chechet has adapted minute elements of each style and has transformed it into his own something which is nowadays rare to catch within the claustrophobic creative scene. Chechet refuses to stick to one creative format, thus avoiding a sense of repetition or known expectation that keeps his followers wanting more. The juxtapositions that occur between colour, imagery and layering throughout his portfolio feel much more like a celebration and genuine interest in symbols of his culture, with time also a prevalent theme in much of Chechets recent work through an infusion of historical motifs.
Words by Chloe Copley
