Uli is an expression of the people's capacity for creative design,
which is firmly rooted in their myths and their experience of life
in the past, present and future. At its best, it is an expression of
their synthetic present, the epic of their search for a new order in
the contemporary world. It is my traditional art style, which I have
fallen in love with all over again and it is a privilege to share
uli with you in my works.
It has been shown that the knowledge of uli motifs and symbols and
their application enables one to identify the traditional Igbo
artifacts, giving validity to the people's aesthetic intelligence
and judgment. This culture is one of the first known cultures of the
world in the recorded archeologically facts to have done bronze
casting. (Igboukwu bronze).
Uli symbols may be said to show graphically how the organic forms
grow outwards from the core of those elements to point, line,
triangle, square and circle that are universal to the concentric
circle at the periphery, which contains reflections of everyday
world as seen by the artists. Just as the inner circle reflects the
uncommon reality or ritual reality of the cultural existence, so the
outer circle is in contact with the human and ecological reality,
which it expresses.
Artistic activities at Enugu formed part of the early post-1960
independence developments in the country. There was the growing
local and international popularity of Nigerian novelists,
dramatists, poets, literary critics, architects, artists, and
musicians, and scholars. Interesting collaborations took place among
those in the literary performing, and visual arts, particularly in
southern Nigeria. The efforts and artistic lives of these minds
sowed a flourishing seed for an uncommon global harvest. I give
thanks to God for these great minds, your outstanding contributions
will not be forgotten.
Uli creations relied heavily on drawing skills whose content is
based largely on Igbo culture, particularly female body and wall
painting called uli and on Igbo tales, ceremonies, and beliefs. The
revival of interest in uli through contemporary art had begun with
Uche Okeke in the 1960s, when Nigeria's independence produced a
growing sense of freedom from colonial restraints on cultural
tradition. It fully developed among teachers and students in the
1970s at the University in Nsukka and was linked to renewed interest
in Igbo culture after the destructive Biafran War.
Traditional uli motifs, now rarely painted on human bodies or walls,
have a strong linear, often curvilinear, quality. The art makes use
of contrasts between positive and negative space, its images at
times appearing as sky constellations. Uli's lyrical qualities
express harmony and brevity. It is art style that has often been
created in freedom and spontaneity. "Uli is a pride heritage".
Uli motifs generally refer to images of everyday Igbo life, farm and
cooking tools, pots, plants, birds, animals, the sun, the moon, and
the kola nut, though some are pure design. For ceremonial occasions
and important events, skilled Igbo female artists painted uli to add
beauty to the human body and the walls of buildings and compounds.
Uli has made her way in modern social settings; on sculptural
surfaces and on paper, board, and canvas, framed and hung on walls
in homes, institutions, and galleries of the world.
Magic of Uli Lines, which is an extended dot or a moving point, has
very many possibilities, particularly, the quickly drawn one. My
drawing explores the evocative and lyrical possibilities of line and
derives from Uli. The Uli artist works spontaneously whether on the
human body or the wall. There is no question of erasing or cleaning.
There is something about the spontaneously executed work, a
breathtaking vitality and freshness that defy description or
repetition.
An analysis of Igbo drawing and painting reveals that space, line
pattern, brevity and spontaneity seem to be the pillars on which the
rich tradition and heritage rests. It is these unique qualities that
I strive for, both intuitive and intellectually to assimilate in my
work. Intuitively, because during my years of studying and looking
at Igbo sculpture, drawing and painting, various aspects of design
and recurrent motifs have become internalized in my system and
inevitably surface unconsciously in the course of executing my
aesthetic challenges. It is perhaps needless to add that the great
works of art is a result of the harmonious marriage of intellect and
intuition.
Chidi Okoye is an award winning sculptor, painter, poet and author
whose impressive bodies of work have won the admiration of local and
international art collectors.
Among His long list of solo and group exhibitions includes his most
recent international group exhibition " The Nelson Mandela Unity
Series, World Economic Forum, January 26th 2005 in Davos,
Switzerland.
"His paintings are noble, vivid, honest and poetic…" Diversity News,
Seattle WA, USA.
"…A sculptor whose creative instincts are clearly channeled towards
a reflection of both his contemporary and cultural heritage." Daily
Times, Nigeria.
His works can be viewed at http://www.chidi.
http://www.modernar
gallery.blogspot.
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