Nigerian artist and medical doctor Fola David-Tolaram create drawing wey Guinness World Records certify at 1,004.7 square metres for 2024. The work dey on canvas wey dem spread across pitch for Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Lagos. Guinness publish im account of the achievement on 14 November.
The artwork name na The Unity of Diversity, and e use Nigeria map bring different cultures together. Fola describe clothing, food, festivals, musical objects and ways of life inside am. So the drawing get subject beyond size: showing different cultures inside one shared national space.
Before e begin, e travel around Nigeria to meet the cultures wey e wan show. That research mean say the project start before the stadium performance. Gathering references and choosing wetin to include na part of the work before people see the first lines.
Physical preparation big too. Dem spend two days joining canvases to make surface of 1,360 square metres. Fola use waterproof markers draw for six days. Canvas area and certified drawing area na separate figures; we no suppose use the bigger surface replace the measured artwork.
E first plan to move outward from centre in circles, but e change method as e work. E fit leave difficult section small, finish easier one, then return. Im account describe practical working process, no be one continuous burst of inspiration wey require no adjustment.
Visitors watch and encourage am inside stadium. The final result join public performance, preparation and steady drawing, with im earlier art experience behind am. The achievement stand for verified size and clear cultural purpose, and we preserve the 2024 date as part of im history.