“You have to feel the work in your soul to know if you are achieving the image in your head”-Steve Ekpenisi
The Universal Studios of Art at the National Theatre Lagos is a compound family of different A-list visual artists in Nigeria. At the art studio of each artist are their highly-in-demand artworks and their protégés.
Steve Ekpenisi is one of the popular and influential, experienced, and older artists who work out of Universal Studios of Art and guide would-be masters of the Nigerian Art Industry.
Steve’s medium of artistic expression is metal. He majorly works with rods, stainless steel, and shredded mild steel sheets that he combines with other elements of choice to create metal sculptures. Before now, Steve Ekpenisi worked significantly with discarded metals.
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Currently, he works more with metals as they are from the factory. This is due to the skyrocketing increase in the price of discarded metals.
Obviously, scrap metal scavengers have become aware of the value of jettisoned metals which is an achievement. Although to be celebrated with full appreciation of first-rate metal sculptors like Steve Ekpenisi who regardless of the tough challenges confronting metal artists in Nigeria continue to create phenomenal metal sculptures.
Most importantly, Steve Ekpensi’s decision to move beyond discarded metals also comes from the limitation of getting his signature metal materials from the available scrap metals he can buy.
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Steve Ekpenisi is resourceful at bending and weaving aesthetically pleasing metal sculptures from tenaciously unyielding metals. From there came Steve Ekpenisi’s success as a metal artist.
He is distinctive for using heavy metals as he desires. Oftentimes as the base of his already weighted metal sculptures.
For Steve Ekpensi, “the base is another piece of art. So, it deserves a similar effort as the metal sculpture being created”, he noted. His achievement in the Nigerian visual arts industry is coupled with his bravery, “do your things irrespective of how people see it” he comments.
“Once you are dedicated to what you do knowing the time for work or play you will succeed. The difference between the poor and the rich is discipline…”- Steve Ekpenisi
In his studio arena, Steve Ekpenisi, popularly referred to as the Iron bender- wrestles with metals that seem too strong and indestructible for someone his age and size. The 44-year-old persistently applies unbelievable energy and gusto in forcing the obstinate and strong-willed heavy metals to conform to the structure of the image in his head.
While he affirmed that “metalwork no(is) be(not) beans(easy)” during this interview, still, I was held in awe at how {working on one of his metal sculptures} Steve Ekpenisi made the whole creation process look too easy as I watched him compel the metals to obey his artistic commands. Little wonder the Iron Bender is also called small body big engine by his professional colleagues.
Born in Abavo, Ika South Local Government of Delta State, Nigeria- Steve’s involvement in metal art is divine. “I learned to draw before I could write,” Steve revealed. His artistic journey started at the age of 5 years when he would get into constant trouble for destroying and using his parents’ electronic gadgets to create pieces of art.
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From his early education days in Nkwo Primary School, Udomi, and post-primary in St. Charles College, Abavo- Steve Ekpenisi sold portraits and cement sculptures he created. Yes, he understood the basics of cement sculpture before gaining admission into Federal Polytechnic Auchi Edo State where he studied sculpture. No surprise he graduated as the overall best student with distinction in the 2007/2008 academic session.
Narrating his journey into professional art, Steve Ekpenisi recounted how his big brother, Anthony Okonta, motivated him. One fateful night, his brother came home from Auchi Polytechnic with a clay sculpture. “I have never seen clay in my life before that time let alone seen a clay model. That night I didn’t sleep. I even dreamt of the work,” he disclosed.
The next day, Steve Ekpenisi created his first cement sculptural piece out of his interest to create a clay sculpture but couldn’t get access to clay. The facial features were somewhat recognizable as they didn’t come out well. Since the child artist wasn’t aware of the need for the armature for sculpting to make the sculpture stand.
Afterward, Steve Ekpenisi gathered the needed informal knowledge, and created and eventually sold his first two sculptural pieces. Even though his mother at one point pleaded with him to stop creating sculptures for sale in their Abavo community. This was out of her presumption that some of the community members idolized the molded artistic creations of her son.
Asides from that, Steve Ekpenisi mentioned that his parents didn’t try to stop him from being an artist. “Everything I did they encouraged me,” he said.
His brother, seeing his artistic determination and productivity, initiated Steve Ekpenisi’s formal steps in visual art as he encouraged the Iron bender to study art at Auchi Polytechnic. ” My eldest brother played a very important role,” he declared.
“Do the thing you are doing right and money will chase it. Focus on developing yourself and excellence…,”– Steve Ekpenisi
Today, the name Steve Ekpenisi The Iron Bender is revered in the community of local and international metal sculptors, and his metal sculptures are considered equally valuable. He is one of the very few who still dares to create in-demand outstanding metal sculptures.
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Away from that, at one point in his career, Steve Ekpenisi divulged that he participated in “8 group exhibitions without a single sale”. Submitting his advice to emerging artists, Steve Ekpenisi challenged emerging artists to dare to be motivated by the daily (Nigeria) issues they face.
Using himself as a template, he claimed to still try to make his work inexpensive in the face of Nigeria’s increasing tariffs on “ invisible” electricity and inflation that continues to pose serious challenges to a metal sculptor. “You need extra balls to do metalwork because the challenges, ups, and downs are part of what the metal artists are selling,” he shared.
Moving beyond the problems to the solution, Steve Ekpenisi implored emerging artists to “remain passionate, determined, and [continuously] observe the works of successful artists [not to copy but to aid their search of discovering their own identity as artists whether specialized in metal sculpture or not]”.
According to Steve, his amore for metal sculpture has helped him gain control over the disagreeing opinions of others regarding his choice of art specialization which has lasted more than a decade since 2009. His determination melting with his passion continues to pave the way for him.
His collectors, domestic and international owners of his signature metal pieces would be glad Steve Ekpenisi didn’t give up on his goal of being a successful metal artist. Clearly, nothing but love could have sustained this Iron bender’s devotion to metal sculpture from the moment he chose it in his Polytechnic days.
On every occasion, the vitality he displays while working in his studio- evidence of his passion- shines brighter than the glittering flashes of lights from the metal sculpture he welds at any particular time. The joy written all over his face when working is one of the rewards Steve Ekpenisi gets to enjoy for deciding to break the norm of being who society wanted and expected him to be.
A typical day at Steve Ekpenisi’s art studio is one experience that would cause anyone to question their choice of career or profession. There is never a dull time in the creative space of Steve Ekpenisi.
While hammering the metal sculptures to shape, Steve Ekpenisi moves energetically to songs blasting on his Bluetooth speaker from musicians such as Fela Anikulapo Kuti, Bob Marley, K1 De Ultimate, amongst others. Also, the classic poetic tune mixes from international artists like B.I.G, and Tu Pac Shakur is powerful and loud enough to overwhelm the hissing sounds from the metals as he welds them to beauty.
Although numerous teenagers, youths, and young adults would love to operate in a similar kind of workplace filled with the kind of melodious vibe in Steve’s section of the Universal Studios of Art. Such would not be possible. Because not everyone lives his philosophy that: “money isn’t the priority but passion”.
As proof of that statement, Steve Ekpenisi mentioned that he would at some point in his career stop putting his metal sculptures up for sale but preserve them for “posterity”. Besides, “art is priceless”, he affirmed.
“When you chase money in anything you do, you will lose it,” the Iron Bender emphasized. “Do the thing you are doing right and money will chase it. Focus on developing yourself and excellence…,” he rejoined.
Steve Ekpenis is one of the great exports of the Nigerian Art Industry. Yet, you will be greatly astonished at the significant sparks of humility the iron bender exudes if you ever get to meet him in person.
His metal sculptures are sui generis for their classical features. Hence anytime he creates a new metal sculpture, it is sure to be “something different that will take the beholder unaware”. Certainly, this should be the case with the metal sculptures to be exhibited in his forthcoming solo exhibition later this year all things being equal.
“you need extra balls to do metalwork because the challenges, ups, and downs are part of what the metal artists are selling.”-Steve Ekpenisi
In his final remarks to emerging artists, the Iron Bender stated- ” there are foundations to all these things. Nothing happens overnight.” Further saying that “in every profession, once you are dedicated to what you do knowing the time for work or play you will succeed. The difference between the poor and the rich is discipline…”
In spite of the fact that Steve Ekpenisi dislikes “shining things” which is evident in his life-sized antique finishing metal sculptures, the Iron Bender out of his studio embodies the snazzy appearance and chic characteristics of an in vogue youthful artist. He is one of a handful of Nigerian visual artists who are up to date on the current fashion and style considering his age. Hence the enchanting personality he has created for himself as his metal sculptures anywhere they are seen or exhibited.