Through Lens, Sound & Self: Interview with Marius Carl
- Jairo Cortes-Marin
- Oct 19
- 7 min read
“The purpose of art is to lay bare the questions that have been hidden by the answers.”
— James Baldwin
I first discovered Marius Carl a few years ago through the ever-evolving Web3 art scene on X. His work stopped me in my tracks — distinctive, eloquent, and impossibly modern, yet deeply rooted in something ancestral and polished. There was a sense of refinement in his visual language, a quiet richness that didn’t need to shout to make its presence felt. Even then, I could tell he wasn’t simply taking images; he was building bridges between the traditional and the emergent, between the seen and the felt.
That impression only deepened as I learned more about the artist behind the images.
For those encountering him for the first time, Marius Carl is a Nigerian multidisciplinary artist whose practice bridges photography and sound to explore the evolving narratives of modern African identity. His work is reflective of a complex individual — proud of his roots, but unafraid to move the cultural needle forward through a distinctive fusion of storytelling, rhythm, and image. There is a subtle authority to his work’s perspective, one that captures the intimate — yet expansive — expression of authenticity and vision.
Over the years, our relationship has been one of mutual admiration — two artists navigating similar creative currents, occasionally crossing paths in moments of recognition. What has continued to strike me about Marius is not only his technical mastery, but the way he moves through the virtual space — intentional, composed, and reverent of process. Whether through his black-and-white photography or his explorations in sound, there’s a consistency in how he observes and translates the world: his framing is tender but assertive, his compositions alive with the pulse of cultural memory.
A selection of Carl’s work on duality, connection and memory, including: “Nirvana” (top left), “Fadin’ Away” (top right), “Birds of Same Feather” (bottom left) & “Before Our Souls Met” (bottom right)
His upcoming debut solo exhibition in Abuja feels like a culmination — not just of creative effort, but of evolution. It reflects the growth of an artist who understands the weight of representation, yet remains unbound by expectation. Supported in part by the Bonk Art Masters Arts Ambassador Grant, “A Journey Through The Lens of Sound and Self” captures Marius at the precipice of his greatness: reflective, culturally fluent, and unafraid to push the needle of modern African expression forward.
When we spoke, his insights revealed the same qualities embedded in his art — a merging of intellect, heritage, and vision. Through photography and sound, he continues to reimagine what authenticity looks like in motion. And perhaps that is the truest mark of Marius Carl: an artist unafraid to be both grounded and groundbreaking, to exist between frequencies, and to let each frame hum with quiet revelation.
What follows is that same conversation;
Artistic Origins
Marius, you’re a talented creative in a variety of disciplines, like music and photography. What inspired you to become an artist originally and has the source of your inspiration changed over the years?
“Honestly, art found me before I ever tried to find it. Growing up, I was just trying to make sense of everything I felt, the chaos, the beauty, the noise. Music and photography became languages that spoke back to me when words didn’t.
At first, I was just trying to express myself, but over time, it turned into a way of documenting my journey, how I see the world, how the world sees me. My inspiration used to come from wanting to escape reality, but now it comes from wanting to understand it.”
Mediums & Methods
Being a multidisciplinary artist, what relationship do your mediums have to one another and how has your creative process evolved over time?
“My mediums are like mirrors of each other. Sound and visuals carry the same pulse, one you can hear, the other you can see. Sometimes a photograph births a song, sometimes a melody turns into a visual idea.
My creative process has shifted from chasing perfection to chasing honesty. I’m more interested in how something feels now, rather than how clean it looks or sounds. The goal is always connection, not control.”
The Nigerian Creative Landscape
As an emerging artist in Nigeria, how do you see the country’s evolving art scene and its influence in your work?
“Nigeria’s art scene is wild right now, in the best way. There’s so much energy, so much truth being told in new forms. We’re no longer waiting for validation from the outside; we’re building our own tables. That energy definitely bleeds into my work.
There’s a rhythm to this country; raw, unpredictable, beautiful, and I try to echo that in how I create.”
Cultural Dialogue
I’ve seen subtle commentary and an emphasis on culture in your work. How important is engaging with Nigerian identity, heritage and even contemporary issues in your work?
“Culture isn’t just something I reference, it’s in my DNA. Every photo, every lyric, every sound I make carries a piece of where I come from. Engaging with Nigerian identity for me isn’t entirely performative; it’s personal.
I use my art to ask questions about who we are becoming, what we’re losing, and how we hold on to our roots while reaching for new worlds.”
Themes & Concepts
What themes and ideas are part of your artistic identity and how do your different forms of expression help you communicate these more powerfully?
“Most of my work circles around identity, time, and transformation. I’m fascinated by what it means to be seen, both by others and by yourself.
Through music, I can express what can’t be seen; through photography, I capture what can’t be said. Together, they create a conversation about presence, how we exist, how we evolve, how we dream.”
Debut Solo Show
You’ve exhibited work all over the world, but now you’re getting ready for your first solo exhibition. Could you give a glimpse into “A Journey Through the Lens of Sound & Self”?
“A Journey Through the Lens of Sound & Self is basically me tracing the evolution of my own becoming through image, rhythm, and memory.
It’s not just an exhibition; it’s a dialogue between my different selves, the artist, the boy, the dreamer. I want people to walk in and feel like they’re stepping inside my head, but also seeing fragments of themselves.”
Looking ahead to your exhibition, what message or emotion do you hope visitors take away from it?
“The main thing I hope visitors take away is intimacy. I want them to feel the tension between sound and silence, between motion and stillness. To feel seen, or at least to start seeing themselves differently.”
Challenges & Breakthroughs
What challenges have you faced as a young artist and what milestones are you most proud of so far?
“The hardest part has been staying grounded while trying to grow. Resources are scarce, opportunities come slow, but passion has always carried me. There’ve been moments I almost gave up, when things weren’t moving, when support felt distant. But every time, something small reminded me why I started.
Exhibiting in over twenty countries has been a blessing, but honestly, my biggest milestone is realizing that I belong in these spaces. That my voice matters, even if it sounds different.”
Looking Ahead
Beyond your upcoming show in Abuja, what can you say about the projects or directions you envision for your practice in the near future?
“After Abuja, I want to keep expanding the bridge between music, visual storytelling, and community. I’m working on projects that merge soundscapes with visual archives, a kind of sonic documentation of youth, culture, and emotion. I see my work moving more into experiential spaces, installations, film, performance.
Basically, I want to blur the line between listening and seeing.”
Message to Fellow Artists
As a recipient of the Arts Ambassador Grant, what advice would you give other young artists hoping to make their mark in today’s art world?
“My advice? Don’t wait for permission.
The art world can feel like a maze, but the truth is, your authenticity is your compass. Be curious, be consistent, and don’t water yourself down just to fit into someone else’s frame.
The world doesn’t need another trend; it needs your truth.”
If you ask profound questions, don’t be surprised when you receive profound answers. Beyond the obvious glints of inspiration one might draw from an artist’s reflections on their craft — which are abundant in the case of Carl — there is a deeper current to be found in the exchange itself.
This dialogue with Marius highlighted several lessons that extend beyond the scope of his own practice. Chief among them is the role authenticity must play for one’s voice to truly emerge — for art to transcend medium and reach the observer with sincerity. Equally important is the quiet tenacity required to pursue passion in the face of uncertainty, to create not because the path is clear, but because it calls. Lastly, but no less significant, is the humble recognition of one’s own worth — not for self-aggrandizement, rather for the confidence to create without comparison.
Marius Carl exemplifies one of the driving forces of the Bonk Art Master’s Arts Ambassador Program — the belief that when you empower talented individuals with access to opportunity, impactful and meaningful work will follow.
A Journey Through the Lens of Sound & Self will be opening its doors Friday, October 17th, at Victor Olopha Studio, Memorial Drive, Central Business District, Abuja 904101, Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria.
Comments