‘Art gives social, political issues resonance’

Self-taught visual artist, Amarachi Odimba, got a PGD in Education and a BSc in Geology and Mining from Enugu State University of Science and Technology, 2008 but has found her calling in the arts. The artist who hails from Abia State speaks about swerving from the sciences to the arts and the place of the […]

Self-taught visual artist, Amarachi Odimba, got a PGD in Education and a BSc in Geology and Mining from Enugu State University of Science and Technology, 2008 but has found her calling in the arts. The artist who hails from Abia State speaks about swerving from the sciences to the arts and the place of the artist in society.

You use exiting colours in your work. What is the idea behind these colours? And what defines your artistic style?

Well, my colours portray my state of mind, my perception of life, my intention, the vibrant, expressive, fluid and dynamic part of me. I bring energy into my works by using large brush strokes and paint drips to reflect me. I am quite a happy jolly fellow and very attracted to vibrant, optimistic and confident people.

My artistic style tilts towards abstract figurative. I like human forms. I paint intuitively from a subjective perspective, allowing my paint to drip randomly, most times distorting the figures from physical reality.

You focus a lot on the human form. What is it about the human form that inspires?

The human form has always been the main subject of my paintings. My life experiences are incorporated in my art. A good number of my works are abstract events or inanimate terms which I personify by representing them in human form. I find the human form relatable and very malleable in telling stories. It is a very versatile visual metaphor and works well for me.

Is there a particular reason why many of the figures in your paintings are portrayed without clothes? Why are you trying to say with this portrayal?

Often draperies water down my narrative. I am more interested in the human anatomy, I like it unrefined, not vulgar per se. The intense colours and my brush strokes thin out the details in my works.

It interests me when I get feedbacks on my works. That’s the fun of it, there could be criticism, different reactions from the audience, I get to appreciate that thereby helping me build my work better.

Jackson Pollock is quoted as saying: “Painting is self-discovery. Every good artist paints what he is.” To what extent would you say this applies to you? How is your painting you?

Like I mentioned earlier about how my colours reflect my personality, I’d agree with that to a large extent. Art is a form of communication, and it is said that your words are you. What you do over time becomes you or rather influences you. I see myself in a good number of my works, technique wise-bold and dynamic.

How did painting start for you?

I have been artistic right from my kindergarten days…I and my siblings did a lot of child scribble, graffiti on my wall at home. Our library books were so beautifully illustrated that we tried to reproduce them. I took to art as my best form of expression, being a rather reserved and quiet child.

Other than painting do you engage in other forms of artistic expression?

Sure I do. I go beyond the aesthetics, I have plunged into installations with found materials, participatory art in public spaces. I am very open and eager to experiment with materials and new methodologies so far as I can express myself effectively.

Was it easy for your parents to accept your career choice?

My parents have always admired and encouraged my artistic works, they have always availed me with professional art materials. Back in my secondary school days at Federal Government College, Ikot Ekpene, I was science & technically inclined and on getting into the university, my parents urged me to continue in the science line because there was barely any prolific studio artist back home in Aba who I could look up to.

Also they are my ‘wardrobe managers’ from time to time they avail me with traditional wears for my exhibitions, they insist on my reflecting my cultural background proudly.

When you first exhibited your work, what did it feel like?

Indescribable! Seeing my work exhibited and catalogued was thrilling for me. That was at the Spanish Cultural Week Exhibition, 2012. It was a big break in the ice for my career as an artist. I was spurred by an artist, Stanley Dudu, whose works I admired. I hadn’t met him in person before I got to see his works at Thought Pyramid, Abuja, connected with him on Facebook and he encouraged me to put in for the Spanish Cultural Week. I was very glad I made it through and saw people appreciate my entry.

Recently, you exhibited your works in the Plates and Pallets Exhibition in Abuja. What would you say was the highlight for you?

I had always admired the Plates and Palettes Project, having attended the openings for the past few years. The initiator, Chike Emembo, has done well in creating alternative art spaces in the FCT to showcase masterpieces from great artists. The act of eating and showing art in those spaces gave me the opportunity to expose my works to a different audience. It was remarkable and compelled physical connections. It could shape the city’s identity and fuel its dynamism towards the art.

Of all your paintings, which one resonates the most with you and why?

None or all. I connect with my works differently. I could alter a considered finished work from time to time as long as it’s still in my possession to suit my taste. However, I find it interesting when people identify with a particular art piece synchronously. But I don’t have a best art piece.

You have already mentioned Stanley Dudu, but which other artists have had the greatest influence on your work?

They are countless, but I’d narrow down to Gustav Klimt, Pablo Picasso, and Salman Khoshroo. I am a fan of Nigerian Segun Aiyesan, I identify with him much because of the way he handles forms.

As an artist from a developing country, do you think art has to be political or social to have resonance?

Most importantly, I believe in self-expression. One has got to do what he or she feels comfortable with. However, an artist should reflect the times, artist are agents of change and should use art as a strong tool to make positive impacts in the society. Because people easily love to identify with artists, emulate them, as we stand as role models, inspiration to people. We should take advantage of that to mend the society. Political and social issues affect every member of the society, we have common challenges, so using the art to address or reflect it gives it more resonance.