…Says she would also love to become a plastic surgeon
By Agatha Emeadi
Chinze Anthony-Ojobo is the president, Female Artists of Nigeria Association. She is one of those few who discovered herself at a tender age and grew with it knowingly and unknowingly.
She is a multi-talented award-winning artist who is known for her eclectic works in over 76 local and international exhibitions.
With a branded special touch of acrylic painting on jute, Anthony-Ojobo has placed herself on top of the arts game.
Indeed, when she gained admission to study Zoology in the university, her little mind whispered to her to drop it and push for Fine and Visual Arts, and today, she is a sought-after artist.
She spoke to Sunday Sun on her journey from Zoology to the art world, her dream, and how everything for her revolves around arts.
Take us through your journey as an artist and painter?
Personally, art is a natural gift from God to me. At a very tender age, I noticed that each time I follow my parents to an arts shop or gallery or where arts works are, I am excited. My parents recognized and decided I should start arts immediately. They used to buy me arts materials in small quantities, bit by bit. I wanted to study Medicine and Surgery, but was offered Zoology in University of Nigeria, Nsukka. After my first year in school, I realized I was not enjoying my Zoology classes, rather would go to the Arts Department to be with my friends and kept telling them how they were enjoying school. After sometimes, I told my father that I wanted to change to Arts, without much ado, he allowed me, I changed to Arts Department and graduated from there.
With that smart move even as a junior student, where are you today in the world of Arts?
It was and still is, with great passion I went into everything Arts which includes interior design, clothes, furniture, jewelries, bags, and all that is creative. I went to a leather school to learn how to make shoes. Everything for me is Arts because it has been my life, whatever I come across is Arts for me as I ended up being a full-time painter. My exhibitions can hold anywhere, both in my house and other places.
How did you rise to stardom, share an experience that blew you up?
Talking about stardom, I am still working, so would not call it stardom yet, it is a daily thing where one keeps working step-by-step and keep doing what one has to do. I produce a lot of work because I am prolific and try to paint. Every day, I try to do something with Arts, get involved in exhibitions, try to make my practice get stronger and keep learning. Right now, I am trying to do some extra classes to make my practice better and last longer. That I am still working is because I have not gotten there yet.
How are you coping with the rise and what opportunities has it brought to you?
I have been involved in a lot of things with the female artists and several exhibitions. On my own, I have done a lot of solo exhibitions; but at the moment, I have had series of international exhibitions because I try to get into international line, I have done international auctions, trainings with the Arts Institute. Presently, I am in the UK doing exhibition at the gallery which will be for a month and it is termed ‘Echoes of Solitude’. A lot of people can cope with solitude positively while some cannot. This particular exhibition talked about solitude in a positive way and next month is Black history month in United Kingdom (UK), the exhibition will last for about two more weeks in another venue. There are so many opportunities for the artists which I try to key into, there are gains and recognition in my work.
How about the feelings of your parents then and now?
When I wanted to do full-time arts, my parents did not like that especially my mother who wanted me to study Medicine & Surgery, but eventually when I explained it to my father that I needed to change from Zoology to Fine and Applied Arts, he understood, even though I was already studying Zoology as at that time. I changed to Fine and Applied Arts at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Now, my parents are happy and proud of me because I did Arts. They have also seen a lot of creativity flowing from me to make lots and lots of jewelries, clothes, furniture etc. I do not design rather paint. So, they have seen, waited and tasted and enjoyed as well. My mother still enjoys painting, I also use painting as a therapy now. I do trainings for children.
As the president of your association, how is the society treating you?
Well, as the president of female artists, it has been a lot of positive responses from people and my position helped quite a lot, especially for the female artists who get together and do things; we also work better as a group and have received very positive responses from people especially the international communities, embassies and western world including our own government here from the National Council of Arts and Culture (NCAC), to a lot of government associations, United Nations and various women groups etc, we are happy as a group, we have worked with different organizations, purposes, promoted the girl child, vulnerable in the society, NAPTIP, we are really appreciated as an association and we are happy with the progress made so far. We, therefore, work and will have an exhibition come November called open exhibition which is also called ‘visual dialogues which are just exhibition not for campaign or advocacy, rather opportunities for our artists to sell their works. Usually, we advocate for the girl-child, violence against women, drug addiction and trafficking; Some of our artists have been taken outside the country and have done well. We have also worked with Mama Nike Arts Gallery who is our patron and supported us wholly. She has taken some of our female artists to foreign countries for exchange prlearnmes to learn; even at the universities. We have done a lot of collaborations with others.
Which of your works is considered the best and the most expensive?
I am still working and cannot say really the best of my works. I have different mixed medium artists. I work with what I see because my work is borne out of different moods, materials which tell different messages. I sell my pieces according to its quality and overall outcome of the work which reminds me of one of the exhibitions I had in Bulgaria where they taught us what to do, work with mixed medium.
What message do you have for young artists?
Let them keep working, finding out opportunities about arts exhibitions, do solos, just keep working; as they progress, their works will go places and speak for them, it is great for one to keep exposing herself into the international market because it will surely pay off one day.
What about the awards won?
I have won several awards and fellowships. I have had exhibitions in almost all the continents of the world including six done in Hollywood and many more.
Does Arts run in your family?
My parents were professionals. My father was a Chartered Accountant, while my mother was a senior Matron at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Enugu. Even at that, my mother was quite creative, she still makes clothes. All my family members are creative, but my creativity is the most pronounced; my brother is a lawyer in the UK, but makes furniture, my daughter is a graphic artist and paints as well. I came from the family of Arts.
If you were not an artists, what would you have loved to be?
If I was not into arts, I would have loved to be a plastic surgeon. Sometime, I feel, I can give injections, can do some medical procedures on my own. I am also tempted to add that feather to my cap one day.
How does inspiration come to you?
Inspiration comes from God. One can look at things creatively, maybe a water shed, a broom, a chair and the message registers on one’s head that something could be created from it. I can be watching a movie and when I see what attracts me, I pause to catch a glimpse of what I feel should be a work of arts. Again, I can look at a house or something that comes so strong; even when I cook, everything is arts work for me all over the places. I want to experiment on different types of arts like live sculpture, it has a special training and that is what I want to do and the computer aspect of arts.
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