By McPhilips Nwachukwu

When Victoria Udondian’s solo exhibition tagged Open Studio event is opened to the public in April at 1b Olabode Street, Ajao Estate, Lagos, viewers will no doubt become captivated with the artist’s commitment to the reclamation of the power of cloth as both an embodiment of beauty, symbol of power and repository of communal history.

For the University of Uyo trained  artist, cloth, as a cultural paraphernalia, is an important repository of history and therefore explains the incorporation of some of the iconic and totemic symbols that adorn different cloth traditions seen across the continent.

It therefore becomes important for the user of African textile  to understand that those who make Ghana’s Kente or Yoruba Aso ebi and such other traditional clothes like Akwa ocha or Akwete from the Eastern part of Nigeria are some of the most important cultural rites and communal ethos of the people.

One of the works by Victoria Udondian

Sad as it were, some, if not most of these important cultural relics  have been lost to the present users and designers of  African textile. While there have been a recorded increase in the patronage of local fabrics and textiles, little attention has equally been made by Nigerian artists and fashion designers to deploying the medium of textile technology and art in the re-enactment of these communal history.

Disturbed by this trend, Udondian, who initially trained as a painter decided to direct her creative energy in the direction of textile art. The show according to her, promises to bring to the fore, what the artist describes as ‘’ cultural contamination’.

‘My work revolves around the theme of cultural contamination and the continuous interaction between contemporary traditions, which is especially visible in the weaving of textiles. I work with used fabrics, paper, plastic bags and other recycled materials which are cut, sewn, tied, glued and re purposed to create sculptures and installations which reference textile and clothing industries in Nigeria.’ She said.

Continuing , she  added that  ‘’ I also use and create garments, referencing the use of costume in Nigerian ceremonies and performances. Parts of my contents include using contemporary mass produced clothing which has different connotations and globalisation across diverse ages and areas.’’

The Open Studio event, Udondian  further revealed, would also  provide a platform for art connoisseurs and critics to engage her works. The works according to her, will be presented with subtexts that would aid viewers to having  richer insight into the historical concepts of the creations.

Talking about her style she  explains,  ’’ In my work, the garments used and weaving as well as the sewing methods employed are imbued with strong ethical and social values; they become the means to investigate the context and environment, the history and cultures, present realities and traditional activities.’’

Being her first solo show in Nigeria, the internationally emerging artist, who has  participated in various group shows including:We Face Forward, Arts From West Africa Today at the Whit worth Arts Gallery Manchester, SAS at the Bag Factory Studio, Johannesburg, South Africa, A Kilo of Hope at the Yusuf Grillo Gallery, Yaba College of Technology, Lagos,  said that her present outing will  equally present her new identity as an artist with her own distinct voice to the public.