BY MCPHILIPS NWACHUKKWU

Imo State born Uche Agonsi is a multi media artist. As an experimental artist, he explores the media of clay, sculpture, painting and photography. Based in Enugu, the Institute of Management and Technology graduate of Fine Art is one of the most engaging and vibrant faces in the emerging tradition of multi media practice in the coal city of Enugu.

His works in their diverse compositional turfs, explore both beauty and messages. But the most interesting and arresting characteristic of Agonsi’s creative output is his ability in disciplining his media to convey the totality of his emotion.

This characteristic, one will always see in his pottery sculptures, paintings and photography. Recently at an event in Enugu, Arts on Sunday ran into this promising and energetic artist, where he shared his feelings and concerns about the arts.

You trained as an artist, and over time now; you have veered off to practicing mainly ceramics, what informed this choice?

While I was in I.M.T., I happened to be the best overall student in painting and second best in sculpture; when it was time for me to go for my HND Programme, there arose a conflict between my painting and sculptural talents as regards to the area I should major.

After careful consideration, I decided to settle for ceramics. When I settled for this area of art, my decision actually offended my painting lecturers and friends and hence the touting that: “Onye ite abughi onye ahia” meaning that a porter is not a business man.

Ceramic products

They said as a fact , thought as joke, being that nobody they know ever made it as a ceramicist, and they wondered why a young man like me wants to destroy my career.

This above statement of theirs incited me to pursue ceramics as a profession with all vigour and enthusiasm, always striving to become the best as an artist and to prove them wrong.

Can you share with us your experience with ceramics?

Do I begin with my experience as the only student that studied ceramics in the whole school during my set? Sometimes, I was refused entry into the exam hall by invigilators who wondered how I could be the only student that was studying the course. Or do I begin with my not receiving tutoring from the hands of some lecturers?

However, I discovered that I can fuse my painting skills and sculptural ideas into ceramics production which made my work extremely outstanding and my style unique on its own. Moreover, ceramics has taken me beyond my imagination, in a way that my painting and sculpture skill or any other branches of art has not exposed me to at the moment. There are always moments, moments I will always be proud of, moments that I will always look back to and appreciate God for taking me through the intricacies of becoming professional ceramicists.

For many, this aspect of art tilts towards industrial and household needs. How have you been able to sustain the challenges posed by bigger industrial art organizations?

Being skillful is one thing and being unique in your own field is another?

My quest for perfection and experimentation made my work stand out even in the midst of popular ceramic wares. Even in my art exhibitions and shows, people still find it difficult to believe that I produced such work or ceramic ware thinking they are imported from China, Italy or from the bigger industries just like you rightly said. T

hat makes it difficult for me to break even into the market because people still believe that such works or wares cannot be produced in Nigeria. This development led me into organizing seminars and workshops, where I tried to sensitize people about ceramics.

Ceramic raw materials are everywhere; 90% of raw materials used in ceramics production are sourced locally here in Nigeria. And only a handful of artist in Nigeria can be identified as a ceramist because ceramic poses a lot of challenges due to its scientific background.

The very few that ventured into it, never practice it after school, all this now made me to involve people from other profession, who I believe have interest in ceramic.

How do you source your own material?

Just like I said before ceramics raw materials are everywhere depending on the composition. For example, in Oyo State where I did my NYSC, I found out that quartz and fesper are littered everywhere even in the street. To the extent that people match on them without knowing the value. A larger percentage of ceramic raw materials are sourced locally here in Nigeria; so it’s obvious that the raw material is still largely untapped.

What can you say about the economic future of ceramics?

Numerous. The resources are yet untapped and the economic values are very high. One can choose to go into industrial production of ceramic tiles, W.C. Wares, domestic wares, porcelain props, chalk making, glass making, bricks making etc.

Ceramic is one aspect of art that can survive decades, ages and still have provision for skill and unskilled workers.

Is there any way that government can come in to help ceramic artists?

Yes. Like most ceramics equipment are very expensive for a ceramist to acquire alone. So, the Government can come in, starting from equipping our Institutions of learning, building facilities like kiln outside for public use and promoting art ceramics as field of study on it’s own.

Are there other areas of art you are directing your mind to at the moment?

Yes, I just bought the latest Nikon Camera and other photographic equipment from UK for my Kuntash photographic business. Though, I have been into this in the past 11 years, now I want to take it to its height, like photo + video coverage, event management, and multimedia.