Artist and writer Nadjib Assani talks with our correspondent, Lauren Alston. Assani is a sculptor and the author of fantasy-myth series “Legends of Onile”. He connects his sculptural works to his fantastic novels and imaginary worlds.
Nadjib Assani, “Art is really just observing life.”
He was the winner of the Durham Arts Council’s prestigious emerging artist award in 2013, he is now working with Durham’s innovative Afro-centric maker place, Blackspace.
His bio reads like fiction, excerpted from his website: “Nadjib ‘Jeeb’ Assani was born in France and traveled extensively as a child; spending time in Benin, Ivory Coast, Canada, Maryland and finally North Carolina. Everywhere he went though, he always had a sketchpad with him. As a result, Nadjib developed a passion for illustration and telling stories. When choosing a career, he decided on NC State’s Design School, subsequently earning a B.A. in Art and Design program. Afterwards, Nadjib traveled to California to take classes at the Gnomon School of Visual Effects. When he finished there, he worked as a freelance artist, doing illustrations, graphic designs and animation both 2d and 3d.”
Lauren Alston is a vivacious rising senior at Chapel Hill High School who’s curiosity and perseverance led her to cross the distance, physical and social from to Durham to Chapel Hill before she was even old enough to drive. She has written about Girls Rock, Saltbox Seafood, Truth to Power IV at the Pleiades, and most recently, The Durham Mighty Pen and Kyesha Jennings.
Nadjib Assani sculpture
