Inside the pinnacle of Joseph Olisaemeka Wilson is a winding maze, the partitions coated in earthy clay, mandolin music rippling from audio system unseen. It’s a place the place he can cruise, eyes open vast to each the fun and horrors of life. When there may be pleasure, he can query the origin of that happiness, the way it manifests throughout the physique and strikes its approach by way of. Within the face of horror, he stands defiantly, bearing witness to its existence and unafraid to understand the reality. The maze in Wilson’s thoughts turns to farmlands that, in time, flip into warfields, then into gala’s internet hosting touring Americana bands and nomads of the like. The artwork is a follow made up of his each day encounters and the worlds they encourage inside, showing on the highway he travels. For Wilson, I feel the purpose isn’t to seek out the top of the maze and even management it, however to be glad about each meander and drift for so long as time would possibly enable.
Shaquille Heath: This could be a bizarre query to begin issues off with, however a lot of my favourite works of yours are sort of apocalyptic and doomsday. They really feel like topics you should take into consideration lots. So I used to be questioning if you happen to had ideas on what you think about the top of the world goes to seem like.
Joseph Olisaemeka Wilson: Some say the world will finish in hearth. Others say in ice. Have you ever ever learn that poem by Robert Frost that they had us learn in highschool? I suppose I don’t know… It is all written within the Ebook of Revelations—all these particulars. It is gonna be like dragons, like huge tsunamis and earthquakes and, you recognize, horrible kinds of devils. And issues are gonna fall out of the sky. I must reread a few of the chapters.
Do you assume that you’d have a job if there was some type of apocalypse?
, I strive my finest to simply sort of simply waft. I do not assume I am gonna be selecting sides. I sort of hope that I get to take the prepare up, you recognize, as a substitute of getting caught right here on Earth earlier than all that occurs.
So you don’t have any need to have a doomsday bunker?
No! No! That is not my fashion, haha. Let me simply wash away. Or I might love a trip uptown.
I feel I’m that approach too. As quickly as shit begins happening, I’m prepared to simply bounce.
Yeah, that is sort of after I would simply name it a day.
I like to ask artists to clarify their work in their very own phrases. So I hoped I may ask that of you?
I do not assume I can do this. I make work of nouns. , that is about as a lot as I can say about it. I actually do not know the way to describe it. It is the factor that I do on daily basis, you recognize?
The place do a few of your inspirations come from? Like, do you pull from artists or films, or do these items sort of come to you in desires? Perhaps you simply sort of method the canvas and get to work?
I feel typically you simply must sort of stroll up and make a mark. After which typically I am going to have an concept that I really feel like I must execute. However it could possibly come from simply the bodily act of making an attempt to make one thing. Some type of burden or explicit message, I suppose. However I feel all the things, from belongings you learn to a track or an argument you had with a man on the fuel station, may come from something, I suppose.
So, in a variety of your paintings, would you say you are pulling from life experiences that you simply’re having?
Yeah, particularly extra just lately. It might need an allegorical or sort of metaphorical setup or one thing. That is what retains my consideration, you recognize? That is the one factor I can discuss, if issues have occurred to me, you recognize.
You had a present months in the past known as Songs About Battle at Vielmetter in LA that was centered round this army common. Are you able to inform me about Discipline Normal Wali Wallace?
I do not know a lot in regards to the man. All I do know is that he is been by way of the wringer. I’ve by no means met him or something. I do not learn about his story. He is a type of guys that each one he is aware of is warfare. , from the minute he got here into this world, he was thrown into the hearth. He had some recordings that he made—some subject information and a few type of radio factor. Throughout the battle, I suppose that he was type of broadcasting to an viewers and telling them what’s been happening on this warfare and enjoying music. I feel he is a little bit of a musician, too.
How did you come throughout him?
Simply analysis and stuff about American historical past. He is sort of an American Nice. However not a lot is understood about him. I sort of take into account myself to be his biographer.
What drew you to the Normal? After you discovered about him, what made you need to create work?
, I feel I sort of took it as my obligation. It is like when somebody who did not have a voice, typically, they want somebody to write down their story for you. I feel it would be nice for all of us to have somebody like that. So I sort of take into account myself to simply be his voice, so I can share his story with another individuals and see what they give it some thought.
I noticed on the opening that you simply had been carrying this actually slick sort of army jacket. Had been you dressing up as him, or was it in his honor?
Yeah, it might need been in his honor. it’s a warfare story, so I figured that I might be ready. I used to be carrying fight boots. I used to be simply making an attempt to verify, in case something went down, that I used to be ready.
Do you bear in mind what you had been trying up, that led to you discovering him?
I am unable to give away all my sources, you recognize; in any other case, individuals are going to finish up snooping round the place they should not be snooping. However I ended up taking a look at John Steinbeck books. And taking a look at this e-book that Mark Twain wrote, it was actually brief, nearly like a poem, known as The Battle Prayer. After which I used to be studying this Steinbeck e-book known as As soon as There Was a Battle. A variety of stuff in these two. After which a variety of music. Wartime music. In all that stuff, I used to be capable of sort of uncover the reality. Or some model of it.
Is that sort of indicative of your character, the place you wish to go down just like the wormhole of issues? Go deep and get misplaced within the archives?
Yeah, I’d say so. , data is in every single place. You simply gotta flip over each stone, examine behind each tree, and be sure to look behind the e-book. All the pieces. After which string all of it collectively someway. Then you will have your model of the reality.
There are all these notes that always accompany your exhibitions. What comes first for you—creating the work that accompanies these notes you uncover or discovering notes to accompany the work?
I feel it sort of all occurs on the similar time. I do not actually separate these completely different mediums as a lot. It is all sort of the identical train, I suppose. Writing and making photos, enjoying music, and doing gymnastics. I feel it is all type of the identical factor.
What are the opposite artwork kinds that encourage your work?
I wish to play my guitar. I take heed to Americana music. I like nation music, people music, blues, and bluegrass. Sort of like that American cannon. I spend a variety of time sort of taking a look at that stuff and enjoying it. I feel I get feeling from that. There’s a variety of actually fascinating American historical past and cultural historical past that is inside these songs, and I wish to be part of it.
Do you take heed to music whilst you work?
No. Silence. It is gotta be silent.
Going again to the origins of your paintings, did you at all times know that you simply wished to be an artist?
I do not assume I at all times knew. I at all times wished to be knowledgeable soccer participant or a large receiver for the Dallas Cowboys. When you sort of notice, and I don’t even know if I decided or something, I feel God simply units one thing in your lap. , it’s important to take care of it. One thing like that.
So that you’re open to regardless of the path goes to take you?
Yeah, I suppose I do not assume I am in cost. I am simply gonna attempt to do my finest and attempt to eat wholesome, and, you recognize, hopefully fascinating issues will occur.
Observe Joseph at @olisaemeka13 // His solo present, Songs About Battle, was on view at Vielmetter Los Angeles at first of 2024. This interview was initially printed within the FALL 2024 Quarterly print version.