Restless yet coordinated, foremost sculptor and painter, Ndidi Dike is taking retrospective look at the journey so far, in an exhibition of paintings and sculpture entitled Tapestry of Life: New Beginnings. The exhibition which opened on Saturday at the National Museum, Onikan Lagos, is sequel to Waka in Bondage, an installation show she held at the Centre for Contemporary Art,(CCA) Lagos, last February.

Followers of Ndidi, whose creative forte are the sculpted totem poles and wall hanging reliefs, believe she has every cause to do a stocktaking since she embraced paintings with the Wall gecko series in 2004. Interestingly and to date, the artist’s new love for the palette has produced 40 works, even though not all are being paraded due to space constraint.

Speaking on the exhibition in Lagos, the prolific painter told journalists that Tapestry of life as the title denotes, calls for moments of reflection on his career. As for the rider, New Beginnings, she captured it as the turning point in her career when she started painting.
However, the works set aside for the show were done between 2004 and 2007. Dike also revealed that in addition to the Wall gecko Series, callers at the exhibition opening which is coming under the chairmanship of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chief Ojo Maduekwe, will also savour paintings like Life games, the exhibition title, and Political fantasy, Also slated for the show are Ndidi’s creations inspired by her cultural background.

Although they came with modern interpretations, Uli, an artistic heritage made popular by the Nsukka-school of art is foisted on works like Leopard in my thoughts, Inner Peace, Layers of Existence among others.

Ironically, Tapestry of Life was ready before Waka in Bondage, but she had to delay the show for lack of sponsors. Ndidi bemoaned the difficulty in attracting sponsorship to art exhibitions in Nigeria as well of recording bumper sales. His words: “I try my best by to market the works.” She however admitted that it is improper for a creative person to saddle himself with marketing of his products. The situation according to her is a reflection of the underdeveloped state of the business in Nigeria.

While some critics are wont to box her into a corner that she diversified into canvas out of frustration as a sculptor, Ndidi recalled;“ sometimes I was playing around with drawings on paper. Gradually, I graduated to the canvas and I saw a medium that is challenging. Since that time, the urge to paint has been overwhelming. Also, I needed to express myself and sustain the brand on canvas,” she explained.
The painter also drew a connection between sculpture and paintings, poetry and folklore, stressing that the hallmark of creativity is dynamism.

The artist admitted that sculpture gives room for all manners of manipulations but paintings, especially, the acrylic medium, does not. “ The most difficult thing is how to develop the themes, and combine colours.” She explained further,“ acrylic dries fast and gives you immediate results, and does not allow for mistakes.”

Humbly, Ndidi acknowledged the influences of masters like: Kunle Filani, Duke Asidere, Nsikak Essiak and celebrated metal sculptor, Olu Amoda. Meanwhile, the artist promised her fans a loaded exhibition bronchure. It will feature articles by renowned artists and critics, Professors Kunle Filani, Obiora Odechukwu, Kridz Ikwuemesi, Mr. Jahman Anikulapo, while the foreword was written by Mr. Frank Aig Imokhuede.