‘Nigeria gave me reason to perfect my art’

That is a basket which is like the oldest residing art form in the United States and I of course make a positive identification with my African roots. So here I am when I first got to Lagos and I said, “That’s it, African-American!” It is the face of an African and that is the […]

That is a basket which is like the oldest residing art form in the United States and I of course make a positive identification with my African roots. So here I am when I first got to Lagos and I said, “That’s it, African-American!” It is the face of an African and that is the American flag and this sort of sums up who I am. So this is an example of my gathering medicine. One conspicuous element in a lot of my works is the map. So it is like I am a photographer.

This particular one (pointing at a painting) is in a circle, which is one of my favourite symbols, because it is a very powerful symbol of equality and my own kitchen table is round. This is my preference because we are all equidistant from the centre. This particular piece, I have not yet named, but in many ways, it represents things that are important to me. You will see that there are great spiritual teachers represented here. I derive a great deal from the Buddha and Christ. I care deeply about the disenfranchised, the vulnerable, women and children and you’ll see something here that represents it all.

I was fortunate to win a scholarship and went off to boarding school at 15. The symbol of that school is the penguin which is here too.

This is a different medium because it is fabric even though in tiger form. When I heard the tiger was in the endangered species list, I thought I had to do something about it; I could use my art to express my concerns.

I also believe and teach that we should question authority. So I started this particular piece with the questioning authority and subsequently added the others which go back to mentality. Again, it is an example of recycling. I anchored this particular work which is also untitled with ancient African architecture. I believe we have to return to this mud brick straw bail proper solo orientation with this kind of construction for sustainable living. That is why I essentially used this as an anchor. There are several African countries. I clipped the names from an old 1985 diary. I did it in alphabetical order initially, but life is not orderly and is more random and chaotic. I have incorporated people and the symbols that speak to me. I absolutely love Hugh Masekela. There is also a likeness of Madiba and Wole Soyinka and the maps which are marks that are quintessentially African. There is the Diaspora presence as well.

You have talked about different themes in all these pieces. what inspires you to do them?

Part of it is spirit-inspired, because obviously, a person who does this has some time. Being alone, I wanted to do something productive with my time. There was something so powerful about Nigeria in my view that stimulates one’s creative juices. So I just started to put pieces together that spoke to me and hoped that at some point, they would speak to others.

Have you had any interaction with Nigerian artists?

Yes, a lot.

Have they impacted on your work?

I think just being immersed in this whole culture does that and for the most part of it, people have encouraged me. My husband says to me sometimes, I don’t understand it, but if it makes you happy, then I am glad you are into it. When you look at ‘Polar opposites’ on the upper left corner, the woman there is a beauty queen who survived a landmine. I am saying something about that because it was important to me when I came across it. There is Toni Morrison whose works I like. She is a powerful and principled voice.

How do you intend to share the knowledge in these works with others?

It’s interesting for you to say that.  I am looking forward to setting up a studio when I return to the U.S. I have its location all worked out in my head. I hope at some point to interest some young people.

Atim is a name amongst the Efiks and Ibibios and it’s your name too. What does it mean?

Atim is Acholi and is given to the female child born away from home.  I was born in Panama even though my parents came of the United States.  I understand Atim is also given to the female child bon on the market day of Friday; I am a Friday’s child.  Finally, it is reminiscent of something my father always taught us, work as a team.