Looking up: Motunrayo Akinola outside the RA

ART is not just about what something looks like, it has to challenge us, says an up-and-coming artist.

Motunrayo Akinola, 30, is an artist who grew up between Essex Road, Dalston, and Goswell Road. He has spent the past four years honing his craft at the Royal Academy of Arts. Now, having finished his studies, his work is being featured in the academy’s schools show.

Having grown up between London and Lagos, Mr Akinola’s work seeks to reconcile his dual nationality and challenge our everyday assumptions.

For the exhibition he made a Victorian ceiling using white Victorian wallpaper. “For most that encounter it, they might think ‘oh yeah, my grandma used to have that ceiling’ and feel comfort and nostalgia,” he said. “For me, it’s an oppressive ceiling. If you found it in Nigeria or India, it was brought there by colonial histories … It’s about how things can be warm for some people, but not for others.”

He added: “I want to question how these things are still at play and ­people’s positions within them. By talking about something, you can effect change, so let’s get comfortable talking about it.”

Motunrayo’s Victorian ceiling installation

Mr Akinola describes his formative years in Lagos as “colours, joy, and rain, and all of these sensory experiences”. He says that when he first moved to London, he felt “othered”.

“I grew up with a sense of pride and culture. So, even at that age, I didn’t want to change myself. I might have felt pressure to, but I blocked that out.

“My parents were very forthcoming with compliments, they really built me and my sense of self up. They’re also from a generation where they were the kids of heavy British rule. Skin bleaching, straightening hair, and using wigs – these were all things they were still dealing with. Through my teen years, I was like ‘why would you do that? Where’s your pride in being Nigerian?’ They both carry English names, whereas I don’t, they gave me a Yoruba name,” he said.

Mr Akinola says that the point of art is to challenge and broaden our understanding of the world.

“I want my art to exist in galleries and people’s homes. But, there should be a point beyond saying ‘oh yeah, that looks cool’ and into ‘what’s that piece talking about?’

“Art can broaden people’s understanding of these things vastly. It’s not just the visual arts – music, film, whatever, it’s all supposed to help us further understand a different perspective, and help us gain a better understanding of our own stuff. It should challenge. Otherwise, what the f*** is the point? Don’t make it. We could just do a design course, put a few colours together, say ‘that’s nice’ and hang it up. I don’t want to make Ikea work, and I don’t have an issue with Ikea, but I’m not doing that.”

You can see Mr Akinola’s work from now until June 25 at the Royal Academy of Arts, Burlington House, Piccadilly, W1J 0BD.