We are really excited to have as a featured artist Chibuike Ifedilichukwu, answering our questions…
BIO
Chibuike Ifedilichukwu (b.1986, Enugu), is a versatile artist based in Akwaeze Anambra, Nigeria. He obtained his Higher National Diploma in Fine Arts from the Institute of Management and Technology (IMT) Enugu Nigeria in 2012 with a concentration in Graphics. Before and after graduation he taught art in high schools, facilitated children's art workshops and curated art exhibitions in Enugu. His professional affiliations are the Society of Nigeria Artists (SNA) and the Pan African Circle of Artists (PACA).
Chibuike has exhibited in over twenty art shows and some selected exhibitions are; October Rain Art Exhibition, Resilience, Lagos Nigeria 2020; 2nd International Art Fair, Eastern Convocation of Contemporary Expressions, National Gallery of Art, Enugu, Nigeria 2018; Visual Arts Competition, Barcelo: an artist between the Mediterranean and Africa, Spain Embassy, Abuja, Nigeria 2015; Imago Mundi, Nigeria/Roots: Contemporary Artists from Nigeria, Rome- Italy 2014; Photography Contest, Planètes Femmes, Alliance Française, Paris, France 2012... Ifedilichukwu won numerous art prices: China-Nigeria Friendship in Pictures, Photo Awards, Abuja Nigeria 2019; Overall Winner, Life in My City Art Festival, Enugu 2018; Photo Competition, Open Day for Gardeners, Lagos Nigeria 2018 Winner, Sterling Bank Plc, Recycle Art Competition, Lagos 2017.
He was influenced as a child who grow up with his grandmother (Asamma) who is eco-friendly and has a strong belief in the Igbo philosophy which says ‘egbe belu, ugo ebelu’ meaning ‘live and let live. Her ideas cut deep into him and moulded his inspiration as an environmental artist, who sees nothing as waste. However, environmental advocacy lies at the heart of his works.
Social Media: @ifediliuwamma
Akwaeze, Anambra - Nigeria.
1 - Could you explain your practice? Only you know why you do what you do.
Through the process of scavenging waste, I interpret the message of physical environmental social consciousness, with my mixed media, installation and performing arts it embodies natural colours, textures and forms. My goal is to build human equilibrium ecology; voice to dumb, eye to blind, ear too deaf with objects like bottles, metals, aluminium and plastics. The sanitization of materials gives them liberated hygienic autonomy which human needs to take caution. Mat is meant for sleep but I create a mat for art through the mat formula of interlacing weft and warp followed by stitching, which bonds the aluminium and plastic as an inseparable covenant between human and global existence without inflicting pain to the human environment or its inhabitants. And the watered piece glow sun in the day, and the moon in the night for a balanced circle.
The artistic representation and value embedded in my creative process seek to inform an inquisitive present human race of the endless possibilities that wastes can prefer, it’s more like seeing through a transparent glass but more closely redefined in ways and creative thoughts unseen before. I bask in the fulfilment of intermediate achievable success after transforming waste into awe-breathing art pieces which in turn reignites my passion and fuels my quest towards changing the status quo with waste.
2 - Is art relevant today?
Yes art is relevant because every endeavour of life involves art starting from when you are a child, critically looking at human activity and nature it revolves around art from natural colour, architecture even science equally involves art because from the conception of the idea to the visualization which is drawing is art, so art is most relevant in today contemporary world because in absence of art world would be transparent… Now I have immersed myself in art, I have come to understand how empty life would be without it.
3 – We are always asked what other artists influence us, we want to know what art we don’t like and which influences you?
Personally, I’m a versatile artist who has worked with several mediums to the point I won’t dislike any form of art for any reason but something like digital art is affecting skilled handmade art because some people copy the real art in the name of digital art. I’m influenced by any form of art created with a found object which people assume to be waste
4- If you could go back 10-20 years what would you tell your younger self?
In my formative years with my eco-friendly grandmother (Asamma) who is eco-friendly and has a strong belief in the Igbo philosophy which says ‘egbe belu, ugo ebelu’ meaning ‘live and let live. Her ideas cut deep into him and moulded his inspiration as an environmental artist, who sees nothing as waste. However, environmental advocacy lies at the heart of his works.
And also it was in my high school days when my classmate referred me as an artist because of my ability in drawing back then little did I know that art is a course one can acquire in the high institution was aspiring to be a pilot or an accountant but finally here I am an artist.
5 – If you could go forward 10-20 years what do you hope to have done or not done?
In the next 20 years, I hope to make my art a household name and a source of inspiration globally. To see my work travel around the world through exhibitions, art fairs, and residencies and equally make my work become art for heart for human appreciation. And equally, develop proper waste management for my community and the world at large. What I have not done is I believe that by then I must have achieved my goal.