Who Are Ya: Timothy Ogu + Interview (Visual Art)
Photo by Desmond Dakura
Our very own Uncle Tim one of Wordplay’s most inspiring visual artists has released his latest photographer piece ‘‘Who Are Ya”, a picture describing his complex relationship with the St. George’s Flag has now gone up for sale in Oink Gallery in Swindon for £1250.
Timothy Ogu is a Nigeria-Biritsh Visual Artist born and raised in Swindon, his three main disciplines are photography, directing and copywriting. Fascinated by identity and always on a path to figure out his own, Ogu uses his work as a tool to understand his own place in an ever changing society.
A football fan and player from birth, Ogu found solace in hallowed grounds of Sunday league pitches in Swindon. A keen player he managed to play at every level bar professional captaining his County and scoring for Swindon schools at the Ricoh Arena.
Photo by Desmond Dakura
While football was his main outlet of expression, Ogu was always fascinated by the arts. His childhood consisted of watching Fresh Prince of Bel Air religiously and using Limewire to download songs that he would manually add the artwork to. All these things seemed like a pipe dream until his late teens. His first venture into the artistic world was through journalism where he would write about music, fashion and culture for various online publications. Around the same time his interest in photography grew with the emergence of Tumblr. Ogu started to realise there was a whole group of people around the world that watched the same music videos, tv shows and also loved 106 & Park.
It wasn’t until college where Ogu picked up his Dad's old film camera that his love for photography started to develop. Taking pictures of Swindon’s mundane architecture, Ogu fell in love with the process of how it all came together, Ogu quickly started taking photos of landscapes, portraits and his friends at parties.
He then went to university at University of Arts, London College of Communication campus where he studied Media and Cultural studies. During this time he started doing photography for artists like BEV LDN, Nehmy and Rich552 and it wasn’t long till music videos followed. It was also at university where the alter ego “Uncle Timothy” was born. After turning up to a house party looking like an “african uncle” he quickly coined the term to his benefit, using the name “Uncle Timothy” as a moniker for a lot of his work within music and film.
Photo by Desmond Dakura
After graduating in 2017, Ogu’s first venture into music videos came with Rasharn Powell - Pretty Girls and Nemy - No Switchin’. Both of them did well respectively with No Switchin’ going on to be classed as one of GRM Daily’s most underrated videos for the 2010’s.
Since then Ogu has gone on to create visuals with more music artists. His recent work with Motive 105 for The Drive Downtown: Part One tape has amassed over 91,000 views (by 13th July 2021). He also shot the front cover of “The Drive Downtown: Part One” and his work has gone on to be featured in Wordplay, Clash, Trench, Metal and Asbo magazine. He has worked with brands like PUMA and Adidas creating both video and photography. He has presented shows for TV and online and has dabbled with creative direction and management for some artists.
We sat down with Tim to interview Tim to find out more:
1. So tell me how did it all begin, what sparked your passion for everything that you do now?
If I am being honest it really was a multitude of things. I played football heavily when I was younger and I used to love football boots and the marketing around that. I was also exposed to a lot of television growing up, Channel U, MTV, Fresh Prince, My Wife and Kids, Channel 4 News, Have I Got News For You, a lot of these shows were mature for my age at the time. Then once I got my own computer the game changed. I started downloading music, adding my own artwork to songs and spending endless hours on Tumblr.
Photo by Desmond Dakura
2. How would you describe your work?
Personally I would describe it as a mix between documentary and fashion with a focus on identity. But I just try to do the work and not fixate on labels. I care more about whether the work resonates with people regardless of genre.
3. What are some of the problems you have faced making and releasing your work (photography & video) during the coronavirus pandemic?
At first it was hard to shoot unless it was from a socially safe distance and even that caused its own issues. As we grew more accustomed to the pandemic, it actually helped the work at times. For example, when I directed No Secrets for Motive 105, it was like we had London to ourselves that night. No one was around and we were shooting on what would usually be busy highstreets. The pandemic also really helped me focus on what is important. It’s been hard seeing such destruction but it's a constant reminder that our time is not infinite.
4. Who/what do you consider to be the biggest influence on your art?
First I would say my Mum and my Dad. I am a first-generation Nigerian and they worked hard everyday to make sure I was good. Secondly it has to be God, because without him I wouldn’t be here. Then after that, I would say my hometown Swindon and the best sport in the world, Football. In terms of people, there are so many I'd like to name, but I will go with Kanye and Sketpa. They both were two big influences on me in terms of art, style and how to move as a black artist.
5. What’s the proudest moment to date for you as an artist?
I would say having my art piece “Who Are Ya?” put up for sale in Oink Gallery in Swindon the day before the Euro 2020 final. That was a crazy full circle moment for me. I kind of left football behind when I decided to focus on art but I know the 16-year-old me would look at that moment and be like “wow.”
Another one I must mention is the article I wrote for Wordplay two days after the Euro 2020 final. As we all know, the racism we saw after the game was disgusting. It really showed the fractions in our society and how far we really have to go. For me personally though, I have always wanted to write a piece like that but never had the space. I’m super grateful Wordplay allowed me to do that.
Photo by Fraser Pieri
6. Do you have any advice for our readers who may be trying to work in music but not predominantly as the artist?
Study your craft: Find your favourite artists, find out who their favourite artists are and then find out who their favourite artists are and then nick things from them. Whether you want to be a manager, photographer, director, stage designer, makeup artist, understand that there were greats before you, learn from them.
Understand the game you are playing: A lot of people work hard but there's only a few that work smart. I have been guilty of focusing on the wrong things and wondering why things were not clicking. You may actually be creating great work but just not packaging it correctly. Sometimes what you need to do or who you need to speak to is directly in front of you, metaphorically or physically.
Do the work: Just do the work, then do it again, then do it again. Be disciplined and don’t stop.
7. Name 3 people you would love to work with and why?
Kojey Radical: When I lived in London me and my best mate used to sit and study his music videos, his music video run since Bambu has been incredible. I think we’d create something timeless.
Kahlil Joseph: His films move me, inspire me and make me want to start everything again. If you haven’t already, go and see the films he did for Kendrick and Sampha, mesmerizing.
Steve McQueen: One of the Godfathers of black british cinema, he’s won everything and his work is a perfect blend of storytelling, entertainment, reality and sometimes danger.
8. What have you got planned for the not so distant future?
I am currently helping Motive release the second part of his debut mixtape “The Drive Downtown: Part Two” and we’re creating a visual for that. I also want to start work on my first film. I have an idea for a short that I want to produce and direct, I'm very excited for me to take my first leap into cinema.
9. Obviously at Wordplay we love music, what is the album you’ve played more than any other?
HARD QUESTION. I could go on and on about so many albums. I will go with one from the USA and one from the UK, Watch The Throne and Hoodies All Summer. In a way they both give me everything I want in an album. The good, the bad and the ugly with a little bit of seasoning in there too.
10. What’s the best concert & exhibition you’ve been to and where were they?
Best concert, Watch The Throne tour in Manchester. It basically changed my life and I left there thinking, “I don’t know what that is I just saw, but I want to do that.”
Best exhibition, Infinite Mix 2016 in London. I saw Kahlil Joseph’s and Kendrick Lamar's film for the first time and I was stunned. The mission became crystal clear once I left that exhibition. I need to create work that makes people feel the way I felt watching that piece of cinema.
11. Name three things you can’t live without?
Another tough question because there are so many things that help me to function…
First, the chain my Dad gave me. I wear that everyday to remind me of my parents and where I'm from. Secondly, my bible because it’s the source and the sauce. Last, my point and shoot camera. I feel naked without it, it documents everything and everyone around me.
Looking towards the future, Ogu has begun work on a new visual with Motive 105 on The Drive Downtown: Part Two which is scheduled to release this autumn. He is also planning to create more work that fixates around identity with the goal of directing his first film within the next year.
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