Contemporary art has long served as a bridge between the visible and the unseen, offering artists a means of exploring life’s deepest questions.
For William Merenini, the creative process is inseparable from spirituality, rooted in the belief that creation itself is a divine gift and that every artistic act is a tribute to the ultimate Creator.
At the heart of his practice is a philosophical exploration of duality and completeness. Drawing on personal experiences, spiritual reflection, and observations of human relationships, the work challenges conventional notions of division and separation, proposing instead a vision of harmony in which masculine and feminine energies exist in balance.
Through symbolic imagery, figurative compositions, and a distinctive palette dominated by blue and pink, the artist explores themes of unity, balance, self-awareness, and the interconnected nature of humanity, Art becomes more than visual expression—it becomes a vehicle for introspection, personal growth, and a deeper understanding of our shared humanity.
Wiiliams Merenini is one of the twenty emerging and midcareer contemporary artists whose works feature at the Here & Now: Becoming, Identity, Memory, and Environment exhibition, holding at the Thought Pyramid Art Centre, Lagos, in collaboration with TAAG Gallery, from 13 June 2026, and will run through 30 June 2026.
Curated by Rodney Asikhia, the exhibition opens with a private preview on 12 June 2026.
In this exclusive conversation with AV1 News, the Artist reflects on faith, creativity, the search for hidden truths, and the enduring quest to become the best version of oneself.
AV1: Your artist statement speaks of creation as a gift from God. How does this belief influence your creative process from concept to canvas?
Merenini: We artist believe God was first an Artist. The ability to create is a gift from God because that’s the origin of all creation. It’s like paying homage to the source.
AV1: You describe your work as an act of reverence and a response to grace. Can you share a specific work that best embodies this idea?
Merenini: Basically, all my works serve as a reverence to the source of all creation. I’m not involved any competition with the source, I aim to draw inspiration and reimagine from what has already been made. But I am currently working on a series Called “Mmadu” (Human- Man and woman) which I aim to have probably, a duo show or solo show with which specifically delves into this topic.
AV1: A central theme in your practice is the understanding of God as both masculine and feminine. How did you arrive at this perspective, and how has it shaped your artistic journey?
Merenini: I have met people who believe God to be a woman. Majority believes God is Male. I believe we all know in parts. When we come together, we uncover and bring to light hidden truths. God is balance of both male and female. Not in separation but in unity as one source.
That how A man and woman can come together to become one in marriage. Thats when great energies merge and become powerful enough to make another human. Thats when balance is complete. We all posses balance, individually. But not complete enough to make another human until there’s a union.
AV1: The use of blue and pink as visual language is quite distinctive in your work. What emotions or conversations do you hope these colors inspire in viewers?
Merenini: I aim for it to spark the conversation of unity and not division. Realization that, we are all fractions of God person.
AV1: Your paintings explore unity within duality. In today’s increasingly divided world, why is this message important now?
Merenini: This message Is important because people need to believe more in themselves and also realize that greater greatness is achievable when we are not divided.
AV1: The human form plays a significant role in your work. What draws you to the body as a vessel for expressing spiritual and philosophical ideas?
Merenini: I just believe that people will resonate faster and easier to my idea using figurative approach.
AV1: How do you balance personal faith and artistic freedom when creating works that touch on profound spiritual concepts?
Merenini: If anyone creates something and communicates it to people expecting them to believe while it’s not even the creators reality. That’s a very wrong thing to do. What I communicate in my works, is my truth. No creator should preach what isn’t their truth.
AV1: Many artists seek to represent reality, but you speak about reinterpretation and reimagining. What does it mean to you to see beyond the surface?
Merenini: We all know in parts. There are hidden truths. If I get a message or an idea comes to me. I know it’s not random, so I begin to plan to visualize for people to see, art doesn’t have to conform to reality, really. I’m not trying to compete with God.
AV1: What challenges have you faced in presenting ideas about divinity, gender, and completeness through contemporary art?
Merenini: One major challenge is that my figurative skin colour could be so selective of other colours which allows me to meticulously select my colours. As a result of this, makes my work kind of unique.
AV1: For visitors encountering your work for the first time at the “Here and Now” exhibition, what would you like them to take away from the experience?
Merenini: I want them to go back in full control of their lives and very much self aware.
AV1: The exhibition title, “Here and Now,” suggests presence and immediacy. How does your work connect with this theme?
Merenini: Particularly, one of the I am exhibiting, titled “These Lemons Are Not Worth The Squeeze” communicates how what we already have at the moment would suffice, rather than losing it all for opportunities that are not worth our time and effort.
AV1: How has your artistic style evolved over the years, and what new directions are you currently exploring?
Merenini: I have really experienced growth over the years of my practice. Currently, I think I seeing myself to be a surrealist now. That must be the phase I am right now. That explains the way I am currently thinking.
AV1: Who or what has been your greatest source of inspiration whether artists, spiritual traditions, personal experiences, or nature itself?
Merenini: Personal experience has been my main inspiration but nature itself has played a big part in my practice. My relationship with family, other people and also life wishes and my idea of life.
AV1: Contemporary art often raises questions rather than providing answers. What questions do you hope viewers will ask themselves after engaging with your work?
Merenini: I hope that viewers will ask about the essence of life, particularly their own and how have they being a brother’s keeper. Most importantly, how to be a better version of themselves.
AV1: Looking beyond this exhibition, what legacy do you hope your art will leave, both within the art world and in the lives of those who encounter it?
Merenini: I hope my works begins to raise a silent community of people that are self aware, ready to live the best version of themselves and not conforming to ideas that are meant to take away their energy.
