Mixed-media artist, Abdulsalam Abdul, has said that worsening economic conditions have forced many Nigerians into survival mode, with poverty, fear and uncertainty becoming defining realities of everyday life.
Despite these challenges, he noted that resilience continues to distinguish ordinary citizens as they navigate difficult circumstances.
Abdul spoke with journalists ahead of his debut exhibition, scheduled to open on August 1 at the Nike Art Gallery in Abuja.
The exhibition, titled “Nike Art Gallery Abuja Artists Spotlight (Beyond the Gallery),” will run until August 15 and will showcase works created from discarded tissue paper rolls, acrylic and other found materials.
“Their strength and determination become a powerful testament to the human spirit,” he said, explaining that his artistic practice is intended to document and celebrate the experiences of people whose stories are often overlooked.
He explained that his work exists at the intersection of sculpture and painting, using unconventional materials to explore themes of identity, value and belonging. According to him, the hollow tissue paper rolls symbolize fragments of memory, while the layered compositions examine what he described as the delicate structure of human existence.
Abdul said his major series, Which Me Today?, Crowned by Choice and The Headless Shopper, portray identity as a fluid concept shaped by experiences rather than something fixed. He added that crowns represent self-determination, while geometric patterns reflect the social structures that influence perception, status and identity.
Speaking on his artistic philosophy, Abdul stated, “I create art for those whose lives often go unnoticed and who are rarely acknowledged.” He said that by transforming discarded materials into works of art, he challenges society’s tendency to judge value based on usefulness or outward appearance.
The exhibition also marks Abdul’s formal quest for permanent representation at the prestigious Nike Art Gallery, a milestone he believes would strengthen his position among Nigeria’s leading contemporary artists.
He urged visitors to reflect on the humanity hidden within discarded objects, saying his works seek to transform materials society throws away into enduring artistic pieces that restore dignity and recognition to lives too often ignored.
