00:00Gabonese artist Naila Opianga is gaining international recognition for her striking paintings of black female nudes,
00:09works that challenge perceptions of identity, beauty and freedom.
00:13The artist says her work is deeply personal, but also political.
00:18When asked how I see my work, whether it's personal, political, spiritual or all of the above,
00:27well, I'd say all of the above.
00:30But I would emphasise the fact that I do find it political because I think it's quite rebellious given where
00:43I'm from,
00:44how I was raised, who I represent, the community that I'm part of.
00:53Her paintings explore themes of womanhood and question attitudes towards the naked body
00:58that she believes are rooted in colonial history.
01:04Among her admirers, a singer Chance the Rapper and Hollywood stylist Law Roach.
01:10This, I don't give a fuck at the same time.
01:12He showcased her work on one of fashion's biggest stages, the Met Gala.
01:18My suit is on me, in collaboration with a Binaian artist, Naila Opianga, and she flew to Paris from Ghana
01:26to paint and to create her works on this suit, and I'm so grateful.
01:31Opianga left Gabon at 18 to study architecture in the U.S. before turning a self-taught passion for painting
01:38into a full-time career.
01:40She says success shouldn't depend on recognition in Europe or North America.
01:46Our work is recognised, celebrated, accessed by the West, but it's equally recognised, celebrated and accessed by our people.
02:09Opianga says she hopes her journey will inspire more African women to pursue creative careers and seize opportunities that may
02:17once have seemed out of reach.
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