Damilola Odusote
By Anna Bang
Damilola's amazing and intuitive illustrations are a very important part of I Bring You Tilbury Town. Here's his story...
You and Ronke were fostered by the same family and grew up in Tilbury, although as you're 10 years younger than her, in the 80's rather than the 70's. What are your memories of Tilbury?
Memories of police sirens as the police would chase youths on stolen motorbikes. Horse shit in the road, as kids in horse and cart would go past, friends of my mom's coming round for tea, me having to make the tea for about 5 ladies. Some neighbours and aunts, all talking about what happened to the latest police raid victims down the road. Sitting in the dark with my mom and sis, listening to Elvis and country music, with the gas fire lit, waiting for my dad to come home from work after a 14-hour shift to cook dinner. Being late for the school bus even though the bus stop was right outside the house, then waiting 30 mins for a train. Standing up to the racist, un-educated children and adults. Fights, being chased on bikes while going to the shops for sausages... Playing on the basketball court of the playing field, pleading to stay out 30 mins longer, ditch jumping. The (alleged!) inbred families of Tilbury. The constant looking up to my other siblings, always being known as the youngest and the most spoilt. Pogs! Christmas was always packed in the house. My mom shouting the house down waking my sister up, sleeping on the floor next to my mom's bed when I'd had nightmares (it got too hot between my mom and dad in the bed), my mom and dad snoring. Wearing everyone else's clothes. Travelling to London to see family. Baywatch, and being scared of the Incredible Hulk, my dad watching the race results on teletext. Drunk people staggering down the high street on a Friday night. People in the street and shops knowing your mom and dad cos they are the only people with black children in the town.
What was it like growing up with Ronke?
I always did and still do look up to Ronke, she is so articulate now as she was back then, you couldn't win an argument with her! Our mom would tell us to clean the house and every one wanted the living room which was the easiest room to clean, but as Ronke was the oldest, what she said went, no strop would change that. But I can see the Ronke in me, the fact that I have grown to be so logical can only have come from Ade (Ronke's younger brother) and Ronke. I had to have my wits about me to get what I wanted. My parents were more wise than logical. But I always thought Ronke was the golden child.
Do you feel she's changed a lot?
Not really, remembering her 21st she is still the bubbly Ronke that everyone can have a laugh with. But I thought she was a ball breaker back then making me do household cleaning but the older you get the wiser you get.
How did you and Ronke decide on this project?
The house is Tilbury is a very unique place, I think it will be with us for ever. Ronke already had some poems she'd done, based on living in Tilbury, I was just starting out at uni. By the time I was in my third year, Ronke put it to me that she'd like to get the poems out and I was looking for material to enhance my illustrative style.
It seems incredibly symbiotic, a true collaboration, but did you ever have moments of "no, it wasn't like that at all"?
NO no no, it was the complete opposite, we were both so tuned into the feel of the book, it was easy for me.
Was it quite cathartic? Yes, I mean being able to visualise your childhood memories of your hometown is great, but there is more material, we've only scratched the surface. But it's nice to hand someone a window into your character.
You have a very distinct style. Who or what are you influenced by?
Firstly New York Graffiti, and vectors, but essentially from my surroundings.
Who's your favourite illustrator/artist/musician?
Musiq, NERD, Timbaland, Kate Nash, Classical Music, LTJ Bukem, Country Music, (oldie) Elvis, Marvin Gaye, Frank Miller, Airside, the Simpsons , Pomme Chan, Graham Rounthwaite, Jason Brooks, John Legend, Teedra Moses, Donell Jones, Coldplay, Artic Monkeys, Talib Kweli, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Nas.
What are you working on at the moment?
A few website collaborations, www.ddeimages.com. But always drawing.
What's your design background?
Been drawing forever, I have memories of drawing in the playground for people in primary school for Whopper bars! But studied graphic design and art at gcse, then A-level in Fine Art, Graphics Communication studies and English Literature. Then an Art and Design Foundation course and a BA Illustration degree at Camberwell College of Arts in London.
What would be your dream project?
Limited edition i-Pod or Laptops for Apple, or designing the logo for the London Olympics
What or who really excites you in design at the moment?
There are some animators called tokyoplastic. I have not seen anyone better than these guys so far, truly special.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years time?
Established in design, in Europe and overseas, travelling on business, making lots of friends along the way.
Please go to Damilola's website www.damilolaa.com
