Quest & Question with Akirash

Quest & Question is an artist talk followed by a Q&A session with Masquerades Mythology artist Olaniyi Rasheed Akindiya (Akirash).

The discussion will focus on the following topics:

America is a country of immigrants: multicultural, multilingual, multireligious. In this project, Akirash is not focusing on the immigration of people as individuals, but in the immigration of cultures, religions, traditions, beliefs and fashions. He is interested in what happens to New Americans after many years. Does the homogenization of American society influence them to leave their initial traditions? Or do they still hold on to their roots, language and culture? How does the adherence to cultural traditions diminish or change with time?

How do those who marry someone from a different culture or religion create new traditions in their own homes? What cements their cultures together to avoid irreparable conflict? How do they live in harmony among themselves?

In what way are the cultural traditions of the parent passed on to and continued by the new generation? How will the old be fashioned to suit the new era, location and society? In his talk, Akirash will address how these changes effect, infect, impact, and shape our lives and existence.

For more information on the exhibition please visit the exhibition page.

Olaniyi Rasheed Akindiya (Akirash), was born in Lagos, Nigeria. His first received his BSC degree in Biochemistry from the University of Agriculture Abeokuta in Nigeria in 1991 and studied Fine and Applied Art at the Institute of Textile Technology Art and Design in Lagos, Nigeria in 1995. He now lives between Lagos, Nigeria and Pflugerville, Texas. Olaniyi was a recipient of the Innovative Artist Award from the Mid America Artist Alliance in 2017, Pollock Krasner Foundation Award 2016/17 & 2011, Cultural Initiative & Capacity Building Grant, Culture Alive from the city of Austin 2016/17, the Santo Foundation grant 2015, and the Commonwealth Connection Award UK 2011. Olaniyi’s work has been exhibited in the 12th edition of Dak’Art Biennale, Dakar- Senegal 2016. He has also participated in Chale Wote Street Festival Accra, Ghana in 2013, International Multimedia Festival Yagon-Myanmar in 2012, infecting the City Street Festival Cape Town, South Africa in 2012, and the East Africa Biennale (ESTAFAB), Dar Sallam, Tanzania in 2005 & 2007.