Nigerian art student Chancellor Ahaghotu paints for 100 hours to break decade-old record for the longest painting marathon
For four days, Chancellor worked relentlessly to produce 106 pieces depicting all manner of subjects, including celebrities, food items, plants, animals, and much more.
Nigerian art student Chancellor Ahaghotu has broken a decade-old record for the longest painting marathon.
On Wednesday, January 3rd, 2024, Guinness World Records (GWR), the global authority on all things record-breaking, announced that Chancellor Ahaghotu, a Nigerian art student has broken the decade-old record for the longest painting marathon.
According to GWR, Chancellor painted for 100 consecutive hours to break the 2013 record of 60 hours by Roland Palmaerts, a Belgian-Canadian artist.
Before embarking on his record attempt, Chancellor, a sophomore at the Savannah College of Art and Design in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, told GWR, “I came to the United States to pursue my dreams and build up my career as a recognised artist. Breaking the record will boost my recognition as an artist both in my school and the world at large.”
For four days, Chancellor worked relentlessly to produce 106 pieces depicting all manner of subjects, including celebrities, food items, plants, animals, and much more.
Read Also: Nigerian artist Lola Mewu completes record-breaking 82-hour painting marathon
Per GWR, the challenger for this record can either work on one large painting or create multiple ones, but the painting(s) must be of a recognisable image; abstract painting is not permissible.
At the 60th hour, when Chancellor surpassed the previous record, he is said to have painted a broken record player.
“One thing I love about the paintings I created is that they were representing my different moods and how I was feeling when I created them,” said Chancellor.
While preparing for the record-breaking attempt, Chancellor initially planned to do one painting per hour, so he prepared 100 canvases with sketches, ready for him to paint. However, during his paint-athon, he completed them all with a few hours to spare, so he then produced a series of impromptu still lifes, before finishing with a painting of an exhausted person.
Chancellor disclosed that he battled fatigue around the 88-hour mark, but he was committed to reaching his target of 100 hours, so he didn’t think about calling an end to the record attempt.
“There was joy and celebration when I completed the 100 hours,” Chancellor said. “It was a new experience for me and I’m so glad I completed the 100 hours.”
Sharing a picture of his certificate from GWR on social media, Chancellor wrote, “Just a kid from Nigeria with a dream to prove that anything is possible with passion and a lot of resilience. Pursuing a creative career path in Nigeria or any part of Africa is mainly seen as a taboo. Careers in medicine, law, engineering, and the many clichés are the golden standard.”
He added: “So breaking this decade-long Guinness World Record is my step forward to paving a new perspective and possibility for anyone who is passionate about being a creative. I didn’t achieve this prestigious award alone and through my own strength. I am grateful to the sacrifices that my family made, to my university, Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), and to President, Paula Wallace, for seeing my ability and further nurturing it. As well as my friends and professors who motivated me through the long hours.”
“I am only in my sophomore as a painting student at SCAD. It’s only the beginning of many more amazing things to help creatives around the world, especially in Africa.”
In November 2023, The Creatives Note reported an attempt by another Nigerian artist Lola Mewu to break the same record Chancellor just broke. For her attempt, Lola completed an 82-hour painting marathon to surpass the 60-hour record of Roland Palmaerts—the record at the time of her attempt—but didn’t get confirmed before Chancellor’s new 100-hour attempt.
