#27 LongJi Domnan: On pursuing two degrees at the same time, lack of opportunities for student creatives, and being driven by her capacity to do more
"I am driven by the fact that I know that I am capable of so much more and if I don’t continue the journey I won’t know how far I can get. I want to see how far I can go and how much I can achieve."
Hi, welcome to today’s edition of StudentsWhoCreate Interview. Our Student Creative for today is a visual artist and writer currently pursuing two degrees from two different higher institutions.
On one hand, she is a student of General Art at the College of Technology, Yaba (YABATECH) and at the same time, she is enrolled in the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), where she is in her second year, studying English and Literature.
What led her to art? How did she get started? Why is she pursuing two degrees at the same time? What is the major challenge she faces as a student creative? How does she navigate this challenge? How did the COVID-19 lockdown impact her? What keeps her going? Read and enjoy!!!
Hi, Thank you for speaking with us. Can we meet you?
My name is LongJi Domnan. I am a visual artist and writer; I mostly write poems.
I am currently pursuing a degree in General Art at the College of Technology, Yaba (YABATECH). At the same time, I am also enrolled in the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), where I am in my second year, studying English and Literature.
I am really into languages and anime. I speak Korean; not advanced but at an intermediate level. I started learning Japanese recently. I am dabbling in Chinese as well.
Wow, that’s interesting!!! Can you tell us the reason behind pursuing two degrees at the same time?
Like I said, I am into languages. And I felt like I could do something more with it if I had a certificate in English. Since I write as well, having a degree in English will make it easier for me to explore a career and get a job if I want to.
Also, I have always wanted to study English; I have been fascinated by it. I love literature. I love books.
As for my art degree, I have been in YABATECH since 2019. I took a break at a point and recently went back to complete it.
What led you to art? And how did you get started?
Like most artists, I loved drawing as a kid. However, I decided to pursue my interest in art when I was in secondary school (JSS 3).
I had this art teacher who I looked up to. He taught me the basics of art. He gave me the foundation of everything I know and do now. It was interesting to watch him work. After watching him work and interacting with him for a while, I decided it would not be a bad idea to pursue art as a career.
As you would expect, I got some raised eyebrows. I had people telling me to go for an actual career and do art as a hobby. But all the talks didn’t matter because I had the support of my family.
What has the journey been like since you started?
It has been stressful but I don't think I regret the decision one bit.
Read Also: Razak: The Danfo Boy Studying Graphic Design Who Has Never Felt Like Quitting
How have you been able to combine pursuing two degrees and doing art at the same time?
It has not been easy. The thing about me is that I am obsessed with planning things. So I always have a little journal where I plan out my day and week. I have schedules for my day. I don’t do things on impulse.
I have been able to come up with a system that suits me. I have found the best time to do different things. For example, I do my language studies in the early hours of the morning on my own before going to school. When I come back home from school, I paint or just chill.
That is how I have been able to stay sane. It's a lot and can be overwhelming at times but I have come up with a system that works for me.
What are some of the challenges you face as a student creative?
The main challenge for me is the lack of opportunities for student creatives. In my opinion, there aren't a lot of opportunities for student creatives. Most opportunities and grants you find are for professionals who have been practising for some years.
I would say the lack of opportunities for student artists is the biggest problem I have faced in my attempt to put myself out and do more.
How have you been able to navigate this challenge?
I just keep applying for opportunities. I apply and forget about it. If I get it, fine. If I don’t, fine.
I would just like to mention that we need more student-oriented opportunities. Having these opportunities would be very helpful and make things easier for student creatives.
Are you a part of any creative community in your school?
No.
What is your creative process like? How do you go from an idea to the final result?
I get a lot of my ideas from random thoughts or conversations with friends. Sometimes, my ideas are inspired by my poems; I write a poem and make a painting about it.
So, after getting an idea I want to work on, I take my sketch pad to sketch it out. I also get inspiration for my sketches from references I get online - Pinterest. I tweak these references to fit the idea I have in my head.
After sketching, I decide on the colours I want to use and then proceed to prepare my canvas. After this, I paint; I mostly paint using acrylics on canvas.
What tools do you use?
My sketch pad. I use pencil or charcoal for sketching. I also use Pinterest; a must-use for inspiration and references. And finally, acrylic paint and the canvas.
How would you describe the impact of the COVID-19 lockdown on you and your work as an artist?
The lockdown didn’t affect me much. Unlike a lot of people, I would say it [the lockdown, not the pandemic itself] was one of the best periods of my life because I did not have to go out and be forced to socialise with people. I was just indoors. I was happy I didn’t have to go out to events or outings.
I spent most of the period resting and watching anime. I sketched and painted a few times.
Have you ever felt like quitting?
No, I have not. There were times when it was hard but I haven’t thought of quitting.
What are the favourite projects you have worked on since you started making art?
This is tough because each project has different experiences and emotions behind them. They represent different aspects of me. But if I were to choose, I would say Gu se koghorong, Liqueur: Tears in a Cup, and Picture Perfect Rosetta,
What keeps you going? What drives you?
I am driven by the fact that I know that I am capable of so much more and if I don’t continue the journey I won’t know how far I can get.
I want to see how far I can go and how much I can achieve.
What do you do for fun? How do you relax when you're not actively creating?
I sleep, read novels, or watch anime or K-drama.
I am relaxed when I am alone in my space with a book and a cup of tea.
Who are the people that inspire you?
I would say Anthony Azekwoh. His background story as an artist is what I’d call premium inspiration.
Who are the creatives you would love to work or collaborate with on a project?
I honestly haven’t given this much thought. There are a lot of Nigerian creatives that I admire but I’ve never actively thought about a collaboration. I guess I should start from now.
What brands would you love to work with?
A gallery which doubles as a bookstore.
What advice do you have for someone just starting their creative journey?
I would say keep at it because it's going to get hard. You just have to constantly motivate yourself. Be your own number one cheerleader and keep motivating yourself.
How can people reach you?
You can connect with me and see my work on Instagram.
Thank you for sharing with us!!!
LongJi will be exhibiting her art at EMERGING EXPRESSIONS - THE UNDERGRADUATE ART FAIR curated by Creath from 23rd - 24th February 2024 at the Mad House Gallery, Lagos.
Visit www.emergingexpressions.art for more info.
Thank you for reading and don’t forget to share the story.
See you next time!!!
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I saw LongJi at EMERGING EXPRESSIONS exhibition and she's remarkable. Juggling a lot and still a performer. Success on her artistry and thank you for publishing, Tunmise