Nigerian art student breaks GWR for longest painting

Nigerian art student, Chancellor Ahaghotu, has made headlines after breaking a decade-old Guinness World Record for the longest painting marathon, showcasing his exceptional artistic talent and determination.

Announced on Wednesday by the Guinness World Records on its social media platforms and website, Ahaghotu, a sophomore at the Savannah College of Art and Design in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, exceeded the previous record of 60 hours set by Roland Palmaerts in 2013.

In an interview with Guinness World Records before his attempt, Ahaghotu shared his aspirations, saying, “I came to the United States to pursue my dreams and build up my career as a recognized artist. Breaking the record will boost my recognition as an artist both in my school and the world at large.”

Over four days, Ahaghotu tirelessly worked to create 106 pieces of art, surpassing the required recognizable image criteria set by Guinness World Records.

His paintings depicted a wide array of subjects, including celebrities, food items, plants, animals, and more.

During the 60th hour, surpassing the previous record, he painted a broken record player. Reflecting on his creations, Ahaghotu expressed, “One thing I love about the paintings I created is that they were representing my different moods and how I was feeling when I created them.”

In adherence to Guinness World Records guidelines for ‘longest marathon’ records, Ahaghotu was allowed a five-minute rest break for every continuous hour of activity.

These breaks were crucial for him to attend to necessities like using the bathroom, eating, or catching some rest.

Despite facing fatigue around the 88-hour mark, Ahaghotu remained committed to reaching his target of 100 hours, battling through the challenges with determination.

Initially planning to create one painting per hour, he had prepared 100 canvases with sketches before the attempt.

Surprisingly, he completed them ahead of schedule and continued to produce impromptu still lifes, concluding the marathon with a painting of an exhausted person.

“There was joy and celebration when I completed the 100 hours. It was a new experience for me, and I’m so glad I completed the 100 hours. This [record] helps me feel a very high level of personal achievement, build up my career as a reputable artist, and pay a service to my school and country,” shared a triumphant Ahaghotu.