The Metaphoricality of Existence – Abubakar Auwal

I heard many stories of climate change since I was very small, and often wonder what will happen to the earth when things get worse. It is obvious that seasons clash when switching their timing.

Through my photographs, I have captured the light-reflection of the sky and the intense change of the atmosphere. The effect as shown explore the often changes in trees, grass and all-nature like environment around us. We can see that the sky often apear darker and sometimes with sudden storms, over heating and strange light caused by smoke from wildfire. In fact, even plants bloom so early because they’re confused by the ridiculous attitude of the weather or the unpredictable nature of the atmosphere.

In one of the photographs, the image portrayed a land drowning due to water overflooding. That photo and the other of the same position is a response to the recent Mokwa Flood that happened in Niger state, Nigeria. There are other photographs that also portray how the atmosphere often overheats and plants droop. There are many reports of sudden wildfires in some notable forests across the world.

As artistic individuals, we were often referred to as people who believe in the power of art to change the world and bring massive amounts of progress to various aspects of life. In this aspect of climate change, there are various patterns we stake with our art to highlight the dangers and also give ways forward to avoid the bad from happening.

Abubakar Auwal, TPC VIII, is an award-winning teen author of two forthcoming Chapbooks: Portrait of Gods As Metaphors; 1st runner-up Nigeria Prize for Teen Authors (Poetry, 2024) and Portrait of Broken Metaphors; Winner Arting Arena Poetry Chapbook Contest. He was the winner of Splendors of Dawn Poetry and Short Story Competition (February-April, 2023). Also a finalist for BPKW Poetry Contest, AIPFEST24 Poetry Slam, NYTH Poetry Contest & long-listed for Brigitte Poirson Poetry Prize, Akachi Chuku-emeka Literature Prize, Blessing Kolajo Poetry Prize and others. He’s the Editor-In-Chief at New Voices Magazine, Porter at Muktar Aliyu Arts Residency, Minna & Founder/President of Nigerlites Spoken Word Artists.