‘My aim is to use the show as a mirror for our modern day society. There’ll be artworks depicting social and political challenges. There’ll be poetry, drum beats and open mic slots.

‘I grew up in Ubiaja, a village in Nigeria. It has an inspiring nature trail and I remember growing up and how it was so natural to find beautiful Birds by ‘the doorsteps’ as well as Snakes sun bathing in the backyard. Growing up was fun and reading the language of nature in the absence of words has always thrilled and inspired me. Often times we would spot Vultures hovering up in the sky over sick farm animals on the verge of dying, or some other animals that had been knocked down by vehicles. We actually saw the vultures wait patiently for the animals to give up the ghost in order to have a meal.

This contrast of life and death as well as the infamous ‘middle passage’ has always intrigued me – thus the beginning of my journey.‘

‘I have always been a poet who often sketched as a hobby whilst commuting to and from work. It was never anything serious until I met Ulf Sandstrom, a Swedish Life Coach, trauma tapper and an excellent pianist. It was he who showed me with a few tasks the entire spectrum of my career as a ballpoint artist.

‘Since then I’ve been creating portraits, surrealist and abstract pieces with ballpoint pens (biros) on the train. My style has now evolved into a pure and unadulterated language that is intended to speak directly to your soul, without need for translation’. - Gerard Osenele Ukpan