Beyond The Sole: How Nigerian Artist Eugene Is Turning Waste Into Beauty For A Better World

An art project that started as a final-year assessment at Auchi Polytechnic, Auchi, Edo State, Nigeria, has turned into a full-time career for Konboye Eugene.

In his studio in Kuto, Abeokuta, Ogun State, the Nigerian artist is giving discarded footwear a new lease of life, transforming them into colourful portraits.

“I’ve been a full-time studio practitioner for about seven years now. I started when I was in my final year at Auchi Polytechnic, where I studied painting,” Eugene said. “It started as an assignment for me when I was in school. But over the course of my practice, I have become a bit more environmentally aware.”

Statistics cited by Green Network Asia indicate that over 200 million pairs of flip-flops are discarded each year globally, contributing significantly to plastic and rubber pollution in landfills and oceans.

Eugene’s craft draws attention to the environmental impact of discarded footwear and the need for better ways to manage waste.

“I source my material through landfills, the streets, literally everywhere, anywhere,” he added.

The artist shares the detailed process of how he brings each work of art to life.

“My process entails getting the materials first, after which we wash them. After we wash them, we have to select and separate them according to their colours, tones, and values.”

“I work in two different ways. There’s the assemblage part, where I assemble the footwear. And there’s also the tapestry, where I have to break them into tiny circles and fix them together using copper and aluminium wire,” Eugene explained.

Creating each piece of artwork comes with its challenges, as Eugene says the process can take between two and six months, depending on its size and complexity.

“There are a whole lot of challenges that come with the work. There are times when we’re working and have creative blockages. And also, because we work with sharp objects like knives, needles, and all that, there’s also the hazard that comes with it.

“I think we work between two to six months, depending on the size and complexity of what we’re working on in the studio,” he said.

For Eugene, the message goes beyond the finished artwork, as he hopes his work will change how people perceive and handle discarded materials.

“These are materials that are known to be non-biodegradable, meaning all the footwear that I’ve used over the course of the years, they’re all out there. So we are creating awareness through this work so people know what and how to manage their footwear and other fashion waste,” he noted.

Climate change expert Olumide Idowu agrees with Eugene and is calling for more sensitisation and creative approaches to tackling environmental waste pollution.

“Ensuring people that waste can have another life or an encouraging output is something that is very good. Even schools and communities need to start understanding how to reduce, reuse and recycle. So this complements rather than replacing poor collection, recycling and environmentally sound disposal systems,” Olumide said.

“Waste is not the end of a product’s story. With creativity, responsibility and even innovation, it can become the beginning of something new,” he added.

The art is a means of survival for Eugene, who hopes to inspire other young artists.

“This is my life. So, this is beyond a hobby. This is survival. When people look at my work, I want people to see possibilities, that things are possible.

“And I also want people, if there’s a chance, to have a live experience of this work. Because what you see when you’re with the work live is different from what you’re seeing on your gadgets. And beyond myself, I also want to be able to somehow motivate others. Be a source of inspiration to other artists, younger ones, because I’m still a young artist,” Konboye said.

The artist describes the reception of his work as a cheering spectacle, given the relatability of the materials used.

“The level of acceptance I’ve gotten through this work is really, really massive,” he noted. “It’s a cheering spectacle whenever the work is displayed.”

For Eugene, his artworks are a powerful reminder that what many see as waste can be given a new purpose while raising awareness about environmental concerns.