#PicturePerfect: Akinola Davies on his unexpected obsessions and the love of his life ‘Steel Pulse’.
BAFTA nominated and Sundance award-winning filmmaker, visual artist and music curator Akinola Davies has touched everyone with his soulful exploration of identity, gender and the links between communities like the 2020 short film Lizard and the 2022 X US, depicting the Black immigrant experience.
In the first instalment of our new Polaroid visual diary series #PicturePerfect, Akinola gives us a personal look on the run down of his day-to-day routines and his favourite moments, alongside his obsession for a sharp, pinstripe suit, and all about his biggest love called “Steel Pulse”.
8:00am
My alarm goes off and I’m not happy about it! I’m the least morning person I know, unless I’ve got work in which case I’m up in a flash or I hardly sleep. I dream a huge amount and don’t like to be interrupted when I’m on an adventure.
10:00am
I work out 3 days a week; it’s something I’ve adopted since the start of the pandemic. I used to be a lot more hardcore and worked out 5 days a week but now it’s more sane. I make sure to stretch before and after my 8k runs every Monday in Burgess Park - I’m not a huge fan of running but it helps settle my mind and makes me feel like I’ve already accomplished something at the start of the week. The other workouts are a combination of high intensity training and cardio for the mandem.
11:30/12:00pm
The tea drinking begins - not sure when this started but I drink a lot of herbal tea - ask anyone I always have a pretty obscene amount of teas on offer married with slices of fresh ginger. I probably have about 6-9 cups of tea a day, sue me! It’s my favourite thing to do alongside binging on YouTube videos.
11:00pm
I’m jumping time here cuz I don’t really stick to any sort of strict schedule - it’s organised chaos, which I’m sure most Nigerians will understand, but any excuse to wear a suit and I’m all in. I started collecting suits a few years ago when I could afford to. Yes, I’m a grown up now. I don’t have a big collection, maybe 4. My fave is by far this Givenchy double breasted pinstriped number. Also, make sure you floss kids although here I’m brushing my teeth.
6:00 pm
I spend a lot of time in my own company - mainly watching movies and documentaries. I also love architecture series or basically building projects - not sure why but Homes Under the Hammer and Never Too Small are probably my faves. Aside from that I get into deep PlayStation dives. If a video game has a good storyline and an open world then I’ll commit to it for as long as I can. Here is me playing Elden Ring. I’m awful at it and it loves to see me suffer but we will learn to love each other one day. I’ll be the best wizard in all the land, I promise.
All day
Anyone who knows me knows my bike “steel pulse”. I’ve had her for almost a decade - she has a very distinct colour way of red, gold and green. True story: she has been stolen twice and found her way back to me within a week on both occasions - long live Steel Pulse (aka the name of one of my fave bands.)
Evening
Not sure why this picture is there but I suppose it’s something I value - got a Benin bronze at an antiques fair which I had to get as my ancestors would have been mad if I didn’t. Another is my Somerset House artist in residence pass, s/o the shameless plug. I got my fave Sports Banger hoodie which reminds us of how important the NHS is and to always protect it. The way I defend the NHS you would think I work for them. And lastly my #lovefromtheheart plushie is, I guess, an adult version of a cuddly toy made by a homie in Jakarta.
All day
OK my mum was literally my best friend till i was 14 and is still one my closest. We speak pretty much everyday. She has a pretty contagious laugh and very silly sense of humour. Her memory and ability to narrate a story is second to none. When she is in full flow I can listen to her talk all day. She is the biggest influence on my life in every which way, period.
Midnight
This is around the time I start getting ready for bed. I lay on the sofa and circle around to see what news I’ve missed - I’m low-key obsessed with geopolitical satire so I guess I try and canvas various sources of what’s going on in the world and which country the west is ruining today.
