introduction

[cletusugoabunwa]

hellooo, creative gentlemen and ladies ,
l am a nigerian sculptor , based in north africa,where am presently attached to an italian marble company,while at the same time operate a private studio.
l studied fine and applied arts ,in nigerian premier institution,(the ,Great yaba college of technology,Lagos),where l obtained a Higher National Diploma in sculpture ,1992.
l also had an informal art education, through the guild system in a traditional carvers workshop in the ancient city of Benin, for three years.this was before my formal art education.With this background, l am able to sculpt with materials such as: hard african woods like ; ebony. iroka , apa, mahogany etc using these materials to produce traditional /contemporary relief carvings as well as three dimensional concepts.,also this background gave me the opportunity to wokk with ivory, rhino horns, elephant bones, cow horns and bones.
As a sculpture graduate, l work with cement, stones, marbles,modelling with clay, casting processes using fibre glass, cement, pop.Also , wrought metals,bronze casting procedures.and abstract compositions using wood, stones,etc.
A couple of months ago, l had a solo exhibition,tagged ,(Shadow land)this is so tittled because of my present location, where sculpture appreciation is completely zero.Though l hope to relocate as soon as a better opportunity presents itself.
Indeed, am happy to belong to ISC, and thank you for giving me this opportunity to meet you all .
Finally, cletus oseloka ugoabunwa, is single and hopes to get married some day, in the nearest future.
Long life ISC.
Sincerely yours
Cletus oseloka Ugoabunwa
( sculptor):(

[Aurora]

Welcome Cletus

Your experience and diversity is most welcome here. I so admire art from Africa because of its purity from commercialism. It is unfortunate that sculpture is not taken seriously there, but it lends itself to being produced for the sheer joy of it (and it shows in the work). Take it from a sculptor in the nothern hemisphere - African sculpture is most appreciated and aspired to.

I tried carving iron wood and gave up. Do you use knives? chisels? power tools? rasps? other?

Can't help you with the married bit as my boyfriend would object (wink). Good luck with that.

Nice to meet you.
Aurora

[anne (bxl)]

welcome cletus,
as aurora said I am very impressed by the diversity of your technical experience. do you have any photography of representative works of yours?
all along my life, I have had various connections with africa and love the very special approach of the modernity that most of you have.....

aurora,
don't be so romantic about african sculpture! in many african places, sculpture is mainly a tourism industry (I don't blame anyone, but it's a fact). luckily this mass production hides exceptionnal artists.

I warmfully advice anyone interested to read the main contemporary african art magazine (la revue noire) bilingual english-french, their website is http://www.revuenoire.com and the magazine is distributed worldwide.

[cletusugoabunwa]

Hi Anne,
Thank you for the attention to my post.Yes you can view some photos of my last exhibition works in my yahoo briefcase.
Soon l shall forward the photos of my stones works.
The present photos are mainly works on hard African woods like:mahogany, ebony,north African olive trees,and few works on fibre glass.
Once again,l am indeed glad to meet you, and am looking forward to seeing your works too.

thank you,
Cletus ugoabunwa(sculptor)
(yugos_honesty@yahoo.co.uk)
:(

[Aurora]

Originally posted by anne (bxl)

aurora,
don't be so romantic about african sculpture! in many african places, sculpture is mainly a tourism industry (I don't blame anyone, but it's a fact). luckily this mass production hides exceptionnal artists.



I'm wondering what I said that would make you assume that I have only viewed tourist art. Great art surfaces regardless of oppressions.

[anne (bxl)]

Aurora, I didn't wanted to offense you, maybe I did because of my poor english. sorry for this. I usually appreciate your posts very much.

but qualifying african art as "purity from commercialism" as "being produced for the sheer joy of it" surprised me because art (sculpture, dance, music, fashion....) is a respectable source of revenue for many black africans.

Cletus said he is now "where sculpture appreciation is completely zero", I understand he is located in Maghreb - Lybia or so, Cletus?- and this is not black african culture (am I wrong Cletus?).

Cletus, to be connected to my website, just click on the "www" case below my posts. I would enjoy your comments.

[Araich]

Hi Cletus :) Welcome.

I look forward to seeing some of your work...

Anne (I think we went through this before) I get a 404 when I click your website.

[Aurora]

No offense ever taken, Anne, it is my lack of understanding your words also.
I think we are standing from two different sides. I find that art in my part of the world is so focused on money and getting more money and marketing. The idea leans towards who has better selling prowness and "who" you know to get ahead. Art is such a business here that sometimes I feel it is tainted with too much seriousness and bull...... Some cultures seem to be freer in expression and just downright, refreshingly different as a collective of all types of people.

[fritchie]

Cletus - Let me add my welcome for your posts. It's good to see someone from Nigeria join the forum - it shows just how far we reach. I'll look at your Yahoo! site as soon as I can.

And, Aurora - I think what Anne meant is that a lot of tourist art is being produced throughout Africa, as it is in many primarily tribal cultures. But she can speak for herself, as she has.

Here in New Orleans, we have (or maybe had - I think they eventually closed) a superb gallery of African art, stocked by a very knowledgeable owner who traveled to various countries several times a year and bought from people he had cultivated for years. We also have a “flea market” of local souvenirs for tourists, and for several years this has offered African tourist art as well, in deference to New Orleans’ current position as a majority-black city.

For better or worse, market economics are reaching every corner of the world.

[fritchie]

Cletus - I just searched Yahoo! for your name, and found only one reference, to something called "guestpad", with no pictures.

As far as I could tell, all the site offered besides your name and a few facts was an opportunity for visitors to type comments.

If you have images posted there, is it possible for you to type the URL (address) here? Thanks.

[obseq]

Great introduction.

I really look forward to seeing your work in some capacity. You have such a wide variety of artistic experience..!

Certainly looking forward to your contributions to the board.