Me, Art and my life -Nike Okundaye

My philosophy is to provide a gallery where visitors can see the best Nigerian art pieces….Nike Okundaye

Hard work, humility keep me going-Nike Okundaye

She has traversed the world. She is also a woman of immense accomplishment. In some quarters, she is known as Chief ( Mrs) Nike Okundaye. To some, she is just Nike, remarkable artist and Chief Executive Officer of the nationally spread network of culture centre named Nike Art Centre in Lekki, Lagos. MUTIAT ALLI had an encounter with the always affable woman of art. Excerpts:

QUOTE: “I have more things that make me happy than those that put me off. I keep working and one of my philosophies is to have a gallery where young artists, creative people and visitors can meet and express their talents.”

Looking back, are there anything you would have done differently if you are not into arts. Some people just look at you and they are surprise with what you have achieved?
I don’t think there is anything I could have done differently because at the end of the day, everything has worked out well for me. For this, I thank the Almighty God for His mercies and kindness over my life.

You always look so cheerful with the stream of visitors coming to this place. What is the secret?
Hard work, humility and of course, following what I believe are my passion right from childhood.

Almost who is who visit your gallery including Serena and Venus Williams when they came to Nigeria. One would like to know the secret of this high profile collectors and individuals coming to your gallery and what makes Nike Okundaye happy?
Every human being does get pissed off. It all depends on situation at a time. However, as an artist, I have more things that make me happy daily than those that put me off. I keep working and one of my philosophies is to provide a gallery where visitors can see the best Nigerian art pieces. So that is why they come. In other words, they appreciate what I am doing even they have not seen me. However, I can’t say it my work alone, I think it is the favour of God.

There are too many versions of your background. Can you now throw real light on your background?
I started my sojourn into arts when I was just six. Because I lost my mother in life early in life one of my mother’s sisters had to bring me to Osogbo. You know, Osogbo has a history of being a home to arts and culture in Yorubaland. It was while in Osogbo as young girl that I heard about the late Susanne Wenger and her husband Ulli Beier. Up till today, I consider them the major catalyst of art movement.

The extra moral classes theyconducted in those days was what empowered many artists. Today, as you know many of them have become international artists. For me, I will say I derived some of mu inspirations from Susanne not only loved our culture but because she remained committedto our culture till she passed away.

I wish we can have another artist like Wenger. You remember that she with Beier in the 1950s. It was then that I said let me go and grow up with her because the way she embraced everybody and Yoruba religion and culture. Honestly, she truly inspired me during my stay with her.

So, in brief that was how I started with arts and background. But let me equally say that from the very beginning my family is into craft art especially where I come from in OgidiIjumu, Kogi State. My first effort were in weaving, then from weaving I moved into Adire (indigenous textile designing) But later, I discovered the Batik, which I called the loss wax method .

But some people prefer to call it Campalla. Although it as by accident, but before you know it, that was how people started calling me Mama Adire up till today. The Adire has carried me to so many countries of the world. Apart from that, today I also do oil and acrylic paintings.

We have held so many exhibitions in this gallery since we opened. Some featured my works and other Nigerian and foreign artists.

People talk about your gallery in Abuja and Osogbo. Why did you build this imposing one in Lagos?
I built it so I can provide a platform for artists to engage the public with their works. It is part of my contributions for young artists or those interested in creativity. It is true as you said that I have such edifice in other places but our gallery in Lagos is a different thing.

For instance, we know that a lot of art events in Nigeria take place in Lagos. Because of that, I feel we should have a kind of gallery that will reflect that. So the gallery is dedicated to arts, especially to promote it. That is why we welcome everyone to be part of our activities.

It is for everyone to come and express their creativity. It is the journey that I set to do in my life. It is a vision that started over three decades ago and I am happy that I have achieved it. One of the memorable places that fired my zeal to build the gallery was the Convent Garden in London. I cannot forget my experience the first time I was there.

If you visit Convent Garden, you will see all kinds of works and beautiful paintings from the ground to the top floor. You will see paintings hanging all over the place. So when I visited the gallery, I kept dreaming of that place. I kept dreaming that one day, I will build that kind of gallery in Nigeria that actually looks like that.

Apart from that, I think Nigeria has a lot to learn from some countries like Kenya. If you go to Kenya and Senegal, you will discover that the government is investing heavily in arts and tourism.

What do you think are challenges that artists face in Nigeria?
Without even talking about it, many people know that finance is the greatest problem that young artists face. I think it will be very good if government and banks can develop products that will help not only artists but all creative people in his country. That will go a long way to solve the problem of young artists.

Some people hold the view that Nigerians have problem of appreciating works of arts. What is your view?
I will not blame people who hold such view. Because if you look at the works of Hubert Ogunde and how it has been left since he died, you would agree to that. If you leave property for your children, it is their right to protect it.

So I am appealing to our leaders to do something in helping artists. In many cases, the rights are violated but no one speaks for them. We should also stand up just like what other countries are doing to promote our culture.

What type of works will one find in Nike Art Gallery?
We have different types of paintings, sculptures, installation and all other types of arts works that you can imagine. We equally hope that we will continue to improve with time and demand. With time, there will be more works.

Our gallery is also offering opportunities for young artists to showcase their works as well as see what others are doing with their talents. So we are open to every art and culture lover.

Fact files of Chief Mrs. Nike Okundaye
1. In 1974, Nike was one of the ten African artists who toured and taught arts in various crafts institution in the USA. These tours were sponsored by USIS, Lagos. These trips took Nike to 50 states of America including the Ice regions of Alaska and the Virgin Island of America conducting workshops and delivering lectures in schools and communities centres.

1. In 1981, Nike’s work won the first price during the South West Arts Festival in Washington DC, USA. And, she was awarded many prices of honour at the end of the festival.

2. In 1983, the National Arts Council Lagos, sponsored Nike to represent Nigeria at a workshop held at the museum of Natural History, New York. During the period, her works attracted many art collectors.

3. In 1985, Nike was one of the six women artists who exhibited at the African Heritage Kenya, during the World Women Conference held in Nairobi. The United Nations sponsored her trip to that conference.

4. In 1986, Nike was the only Nigerian woman who represented Nigeria in an exhibition featuring African Centre, London. That exhibition was sponsored by Akin Mama Wa Africa, London.

5. In 1989, Nike and Sakari Douglas Camp were the only Nigerian women artists who represented Nigerian in an exhibition held at the women museum in Washington DC,USA.

6. In1991, USIA sponsored Nike’s educational visit to many institutions of higher learning and museum in USA. This trip again took Nike to Washington DC to lecture and conduct workshops at the Howard University of Maryland and the Rhode Island school of textile.

7. In 1992, Nike was the only African who represented the continent of Africa in an exhibition organized by BMW Company, Munich Germany, during their anniversary celebration. Nike was accompanied by her cultural troupe.

8. In 1994, during the celebration marking the 50th anniversary of UN, Nike was one of the 50 artists selected to exhibit their work in a film, a documentary in-put for the anniversary was exhibited in South Africa.

9. In November 1994, Nike exhibited her works at the Royal York hotel, Toronto Canada, during the 37th annual conference of the African studies association of USA and Canada.

10. In June 2000, Nike was invited by the Federal government of Nigeria to supply all the textile materials, which designed for the Nigerian pavilion at the Expo 2000 in Hanover, Germany. Her art works were also on display during that Expo in Hanover, Germany.

11. In 2000, she was again invited to Italy by the CISV of Italy and Caritas of Italy to organize art exhibition and workshop in Turin to address the problem of the female prostitution in that country. She mounted these art exhibitions which were largely attended.

12. In 2002, Nike held an art exhibition at the Pan African Film Festival (PAFF) in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA.