Ex-student demonstrates art influences
by Brian Shults, se news editor

    African-influenced sculpture by a former TCC student was part of SE Campus’ celebration of Black History Month.

   Augie N’Kele, Congo-born sculptor, moved to Tarrant County 21 years ago, but he did not seriously begin pursuing his artistic goals until he became inspired as a student on NE Campus in the early ’90s.

   “When I moved here, I didn’t do my art because I thought you had to have a big studio and a lot of money to start creating,” N’Kele said.

   After working for a time, he enrolled in art classes on NE Campus. After one field trip with his class, N’Kele said he changed his attitude about what was truly necessary to create art.

   “We had a trip to Irving at Williams Square to see some sculpture, and I met one of the artists. He asked me if I made this,” he said pointing to the gold tribal figure hanging from his neck, which he still wears quite often.

   “I told him I did, and he said, ‘You’re very talented. What do you do with your God-given talent?’” N’Kele said.

   N’Kele told the man he had not worked on his art since moving to America because he did not have much free time.

   The artist said, “If you take advantage of your talent in this country, you can be successful because there are so many opportunities.”

   The encouragement of the conversation made an impression on N’Kele. After deliberating on whether to focus his energies solely on work or divide it between work and art, he had the opportunity to confer with everyone in his family. His father had to come to the United States for surgery, and during his recovery, N’Kele gathered his wife and father to discuss his decision and ask for their blessing.

   “I told them I better take my art seriously before it’s too late. And since then, I have worked on my art and worked at the airport. I realized after I started working on art that you don’t need a big studio to create. I did most of this in a two-bedroom apartment with my family living there,” he said.

   He stresses now that the main investment in becoming an artist and pursuing a goal in life is time. Even the materials for his sculpture and paintings are things people throw away or one sees on the street, N’Kele said.

   “Most of the materials I use are found objects that are everywhere. I use window screen for the hair of some of my sculptures, and I galvanize wire to make clothes or the body,” he said.

   N’Kele believes endless combinations of creations can be made using everything from coat hangers to soda cans and beer bottles, while also recycling materials most people throw away.

   “What better way to clean the environment. Because how many cans of beer or bottles on the street do we see? It doesn’t cost you much to find them and turn them into beautiful art—only time,” he said.

   N’Kele’s art ranges from wire African drum circles to African masks to spray-painted portraits on old metal signs. One particular work, The Pill, features a curled-up nude woman with an elongated neck, common to some practices of African women. N’Kele said this work was directly influenced by African art he was exposed to while young.

   “I use spray paint. Then I go back and use a razor blade and begin etching out the figure,” he said describing the piece.

   The effect of the multi-layering of spray paint shows several shades of color within the same line. The thin-lined caricature has several colors captured within each portion of the work.

   N’Kele said he is grateful for all the attention that has come to his work in the 10 years he has been devoted to it. He now has art displayed in Norway and the home of a prominent Dallas collector.

   N’Kele and his work will be on NW Campus Thursday, Feb. 21, 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. in B-118.