For many years, youth in the Caribbean have been subjected to the undesirable dynamic of being limited in career choices that they could aspire to excel in. In order to break the anachronistic mold that one has to be a lawyer, doctor or banker in order to ascertain sustainable financial success, it’s imperative that we highlight the talents among us who can help to change this mentality. One such talent is Nicholas Anglin, who you may know better as Nuwarhol, or “Nu” for short. Nu is one of the most dynamic, cultured and rounded visual artists Jamaica has ever produced. Nu started his journey as a creative in the realms of photography and videography. His contribution to the Jamaican creative scene can be traced as far back as 2010 when he was creating visual assets for the popular lifestyle and fashion company Young Moguls, his personal clothing line L.O.S.T (Live. On. Setting. Trends) and his solo venture StruckXGold. His arresting visuals captured the attention of many young persons in Jamaica and his popularity started to grow exponentially.
Though I’m confident that he is still effortlessly proficient with a camera in hand, Nu’s artistic expression evolved into the realms of Art Direction, Painting, Illustration and Design. He places a high premium on abstraction while using bright, bold colors. He cerebrally aspires to create his personal narratives of the world through his art. His syncretic approach to visual art which fuses Pop Art and Graffiti influences enables him to create dynamic content portraying lifestyle, beauty and fashion. His work has captured the attention of art lovers all over the world. Currently based in New York, we are grateful that the prolific art guru found time to have a timely and pertinent conversation with us.
CARIB VOXX: Your art moniker NUWARHOL undoubtedly draws influence from the postmodernism era of art, and more specifically, the enigmatic American artist Andy Warhol. Tell us a little bit about how this era of Art History inspired you?
Nuwarhol: Honestly, this era was an epic point in time where the ideologies of individualism, economic power and consumerism were very relevant. I was intrigued by the thought of consumerism in this era – a time of innovation in form, function and all creative areas honing in on commercializing that. Andy Warhol was just one of the many influencers who made the ideology of consumerism and popular culture a major turning point in the study of culture and aesthetics.
CARIB VOXX: Art Direction has emerged as a very popular career path for young creatives in the last decade, but there is a mystique around the path. What exactly is art direction and what are some of the day-to-day activities that it entails?
Nuwarhol: Well I think of an Art Director as a curator who visualizes a space and chooses how it all comes together based on the client’s desires. An Art Director can be responsible for the visual style and visual assets of a creative piece – ranging from images in magazines, news papers, movies, television and even product design. They create the overall design and direct others who develop artworks or layouts.
CARIB VOXX: How long have you been illustrating, and how did you develop such exquisite technical abilities as an illustrator?
Nuwarhol:I’ve always been drawing! From there I just explored and explored; I learned from other artists and observed their techniques until I was able to cultivate something that was uniquely my own.
CARIB VOXX: The stereotype of many creative persons is that they are inept at business and profiting from their gifts and talents. Working with corporate clients such as Pepsi Jamaica and many others in New York indicates that you clearly possess strong business acumen. How do you balance your business aspirations as a creative without sacrificing the purity of your art?
Nuwarhol: Mmhhmm. Well I feel that once it’s corporate it tends to involve some sacrifice. For example, I work as an Art Director for an agency – the sacrifice there is that I’m limited to what I am able to do across a brand’s identity. I can’t stray too far from what their core is. Pepsi, for example, wanted me to express my idea of Jama-I-CAN for the campaign. It was a campaign that needed a specific aesthetic.
CARIB VOXX: You are formally educated in Art & Design. Tell us about your educational background in art and how you believe that gives you a competitive edge over other creatives who aren’t formally trained?
Nuwarhol: I studied at The Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts, and this definitely gave me a competitive edge in a corporate environment because you learn how to express a visual idea precisely and with intent. I honestly believe the difference is just the intentional thinking; understanding what, why and how whatever you create should impact or emerge in the world.
CARIB VOXX: You are already a multifarious creative, but is there any artistic venture or hidden gifting you have yet to explore that you could share with us?
Nuwarhol: I think I’m always on a journey to explore more ways to expand my design principles across these disciplines. I would say furniture design may be a new one I might be exploring. Nothing I can share yet- but you, Carib Voxx, heard it first.
