User:Asengalart/Adem Sengal

Ademali Genad Sengal (born December 25, 1976) is an African artist. He is best known for his paintings Pakistan (painting), Afghanistan (painting), Iran (painting), Iraq (painting), and War (painting).

Early life
Sengal was born in Antananarivo, Madagascar, of parents Gakere Sengal and Baba Sengal. At 5, his parents died of Malaria, leaving him with his Uncle, Lisimba Ballo. Together they sailed to New York City, New York, where Sengal was put up for adoption. He was put into the care of the Johnson family, where they accepted him as their own. Bill Johnson, the father, wanted him to be a football player, however, Sengal had a passion for abstract art that could not be destroyed. He would steal art supplies and paint in the basement for hours until he could get his message across. He said in one interview with Kieran Vanderslice of Abstract Artistry: Today, "It was dangerous, but I had to do it. I couldn't just give up what I love because someone wanted something [else] for me."

In 2003, Sengal shipped off for the War in Iraq. Going there gave him the inspiration to create artwork such as Iraq (painting).

Career
Sengal has enriched the lives of the general population by creating meaningful, abstract artwork. In interviews, he has been asked what the paintings mean, but he says they are "open for interpretation."