CONTEMPORARY
EMBROIDERED CLOTH
LEFT My Village
Embroidery by Nike Davies Okundaye
c. 1970
Artist's Collection; (Photo © Mike Roberts, Electra Studios)
Though this is yet another example of the embroidery technique, it differs from the other previously seen object. This piece was chosen to illustrate how this technique can be used through a more modern approach. Nike Davies Okundaye is one of the most famous female Nigerian artists to date, having exhibited works internationally since the early 1980's. Though she is most famous for her batik pieces, she also engages in weaving, applique, indigo cloth-dying, painting, stonework, and embroidery. [18] In the image present we see bright and vivid colors stitched into the cloth to build up the image. We see what appears to be homes and a cross-section of her village inside the portrayal of what might possibly be the heads of birds. Many contemporary artists find themselves using what is considered as 'traditional' methods or practices to create their work today. One might see this as a positive solution allowing the artist to both honor traditional methods and satisfy their contemporary needs in creating artwork.
[18] Betty LaDuke, Africa: Through the Eyes of Women Artists (New Jersey: Africa World Press, Inc., 1991), 33-40.
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT NIKE DAVIES OKUNDAYE, GO TO:
http://nikeart.com/
Embroidery by Nike Davies Okundaye
c. 1970
Artist's Collection; (Photo © Mike Roberts, Electra Studios)
Though this is yet another example of the embroidery technique, it differs from the other previously seen object. This piece was chosen to illustrate how this technique can be used through a more modern approach. Nike Davies Okundaye is one of the most famous female Nigerian artists to date, having exhibited works internationally since the early 1980's. Though she is most famous for her batik pieces, she also engages in weaving, applique, indigo cloth-dying, painting, stonework, and embroidery. [18] In the image present we see bright and vivid colors stitched into the cloth to build up the image. We see what appears to be homes and a cross-section of her village inside the portrayal of what might possibly be the heads of birds. Many contemporary artists find themselves using what is considered as 'traditional' methods or practices to create their work today. One might see this as a positive solution allowing the artist to both honor traditional methods and satisfy their contemporary needs in creating artwork.
[18] Betty LaDuke, Africa: Through the Eyes of Women Artists (New Jersey: Africa World Press, Inc., 1991), 33-40.
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT NIKE DAVIES OKUNDAYE, GO TO:
http://nikeart.com/