‘Artists have brought glory to the country’

Updated: Tuesday 19-05-2009

Victor EhikhamenorVictor Ehikhamenor, a talented artist, left the shores of Nigeria 15 years ago for the United States of America in search of academic and professional fulfillment. Now back in the country, he speaks with Adewale Oshodi on life as an artist in the US and how Nigerians have come to appreciate works of arts. Excerpts:

You were a very popular visual artist in the country but suddenly, you relocated to the United States about a decade and a half ago. Was there any reason why you relocated?
Let me correct the notion that I was very popular before I left Nigeria. I wasn’t popular at all. As a matter of fact, I was not practicing art fully before I left the country. However, on why I left the country; I needed to seek further education abroad, but the Abacha madness at that time contributed to my departure.

It was so difficult during the Abacha years and for youths like us who had no godfather stealing money in government, we had to seek our proverbial palm-kernel cracking benevolent spirit elsewhere. And my journey to the US threw up so many opportunities for me, which I seized with open arms.

I guess you continued your profession as an artist in the United States; what was it like for you as an artist compared to when you were in Nigeria?
The difference is that being an artist in the US is more organised. One has access to facilities, grants, materials etc, and if you are lucky, you have good galleries that can represent you properly as an artist. However, Nigeria is not so bad, because we are a very talented and creative people and we have made do with little to nothing as artists and writers in this country.

How does an average American perceive an artist?
The average American respects artworks and artists. Those who have money collect artworks and they could buy artworks for millions of dollars. However, there are also some who don’t love works of arts at all.

Is it possible to be a professional artist in the US without doing any other job?
It is very possible, but I don’t think it is a good idea to rely solely on arts for one’s income. The reason for this is that America is a land of bills; so you must be able to pay your bills or you can easily become a destitute. You have to support yourself with a job that allows you to paint or write on the side, while you build a name for yourself before completely branching out. I was on my own till 2003, before I got a fellowship from the University of Maryland, USA. And I probably would not have taken my current job as the Creative Director of NEXT newspapers if it had nothing to do with art.

Now that you are back in the country, what was it that made you decide you wanted to return home?
Was I ever away? I was in America only in the flesh. My heart remained permanently in Nigeria. I finally decided to re-unite the two last years because I love this country and this is where I am relevant. Muhtar Bakare of Farafina Magazine and Dele Olojede, the publisher of NEXT, made my return quicker, and I am grateful for that.

Since you returned to Nigeria, has anything changed for artists in the country; do Nigerians now appreciate the work of an artist?
I think we have more art enthusiasts than before. We have younger collectors now in the country, and I think this is a result of the economic boom we enjoyed before this global meltdown. There are more galleries now and there are more art events these days. While the ordinary citizens appreciate art, the Nigerian government is yet to wake up and do something for the arts in this country. Or maybe the government is doing something but, unfortunately, we just don’t have the right administrators to carry out our art policies properly.

Many Nigerians who discover their children have the flair for arts, try to dissuade them because they see artists as people who are not financially-buoyant; what’s your advice for this group of people, and does any of your children have the flair for arts?
It is an age-long ignorant battle. But I think if parents support their children properly, there are various things our children can do with an art degree, and be very wealthy. Look at advertising agency owners, they are quite rich, and that is just one area. You can be very wealthy in anything you do; it all depends on how you go at it and how God blesses you. Parents also seem to forget that money is not the first concern of an artist, but inner fulfillment and happiness. However, art is the most lucrative business in the world, that I can tell you.

As for my boy, I see some signs of an artist in him. He is just four and he is always in the studio with me when I am in America. I won’t dissuade him if he wants to be an artist, but he has to make sure he is serious with whatever he chooses to do and I will give him my full support.

Can arts be used to change the perception of people, especially foreigners, about the country?
Yes, that is one the few things we still have going for us. Nigerian artists are well respected the world over. Our biggest export to the world is arts — whether visual or writing. We have brought glory to this country, unlike our leaders and some fraudulent people who keep dragging our name in the mud.