Industrious craftsmanship elicits awe and glamour, and the endless inquisitive spirit staring down at a blank canvas is what makes the creative process of an artist unique. Malcolm Udogwu is a study in versatility. Considered a late bloomer in terms of art productivity, Udogwu compensates for that with prodigiousity and proficiency in strokes of the brush, the magic of the chisel and bare hands, which have given birth to over 200 treasure troves of artworks only associated with genius at his Queens, New York Studio.
When he started painting, it was all about draft books, but he poured his heart and thoughts or any ideas and designs that caught his attention into his pocket draft book. He realised how effective the various mediums affected the character and presentation of a project. From using pencils to black Indian ink, acrylic paints, he appropriated oil paints to give depth to his work. “It was a stable process which, in the long run, afforded me a critical advantage and confidence in my skills,” the New York based artist told Daily Sun
Udogwu, the spirit of Mudhouse Genius, quickly adjusted to free hand painting, rather than structural techniques. Encouraged by his love of Abstract painting and Realism, the desire to transition to sculpture was imminent for the 72-year old artist, also a veteran journalist. The process freed his imagination, and he could just glide through a piece like an old-timer in the business. Besides, Udogwu caught up with the effect of colours on a painting. In the art world, African artists are noted for their use of bold colours.
He echoed: “Colour aids the narrative in a painting. Colour is soothing and builds the character of the painting in the eye and mind. In one painting, I had curved and stretched structures running across one another from different angles. I appended headshots on each stance. I named that painting, ‘Cat Walk’, after models on the runway. Abstraction lets me think as a puzzle player – that of solving and realigning paint strokes.”
Though Udogwu was imbued with creativity right from a young age, art was the last of many talents he nursed. He worked for decades as a journalist both in Nigeria and the US, and has published both creative and nonfiction works. However, in the twilight of his scribbling career, he obliged art to take the centre stage. He isn’t resting on his oars.
Like most great artists who understand that talent isn’t enough in this age, he placed emphasis on honing his craft. First, he applied to a school of visual arts in New York and registered for a semester in illustration and screen printing. Leaning back on the works of legendary artists, he saw gems to serve as a spur to the newfound profession and, ultimately, a catalyst for the limelight. Needless to say, Udogwu turned his attention to the African painters that he admired.
“Professor Ben Enwonwu was my favourite artist. I saw his sculpture in Lagos titled, ’SHANGO’ the god of Thunder) in Lagos many decades ago. I also admired several of his paintings, particularly one now resident in the British Museum, ‘Agbogho Mmuo’; he was an accomplished artist. Twin Seven Seven is another Nigerian artist I admired. He excelled in freestyle painting. I love his paintings, ‘The Palm Wine Tapper’ and ‘The Fisherman Family’. He was a prolific and very accessible artist from the then Osogbo artist community,” he told Daily Sun.
Till date, they are vestiges of past artists and their histories in Nigeria which flash through his mind as he takes a backward glance at the country of his birth, Nigeria. He believed the paintings of Gharieku Lemi, Fela Anikulakpo Kuti album designer, took art illustrations to another level. “By now, I am able to let the image of a piece build in my mind as I sketch with pencil on the canvas. I have learned of the energy of a blank space on a canvas, and how inviting or tempting to fill the space. In some ways, it explains the saying that a painting is never finished, much like any creative endeavour,” he said.
His first painting on canvas in 1997 is titled, “Talking Drums,” acrylic oil, 24×36” canvas. It was a surreal experience for him, and the work still hangs in his office. Udogwu hardly describes himself as a sculptor, “but one thing I know is the ability to use my hands and transform things, be it wood, leather or fabric. I love quilting clothes and making screen prints. I love making leather bangles and ornaments, and cutting pieces of wood to make house-hold furniture or decorative pieces. I love making photo frames.”
These routine engagements have transformed how the artist views his day-to-day activities in New York, where he lives. His Queens basement is stocked with light machinery and hands-on tools that enable him to translate his thoughts to my art. He is currently working on his basement gallery in New York, installing frame hooks and repositioning large pieces. The multitalented artist intends to hold his first exhibition in the near future. “Meanwhile, our tagline is: Building a Neigbourhood Gallery: One Visitor at a Time,” he hints.
Lest we forget, New York is a multicultural city. It is also the home of many artists and museums, flea markets and art and craft exhibitions. It is a very busy city and offers creative freedom and opportunities that are limited in other countries. The New York City cultural center is very active in offering grants, and welcomes more than 60 million tourists annually who want to buy souvenirs. Recently, Udogwu received a call from an art project organiser to participate in a free Market Research Exhibition. The exhibition turned out to be an excellent opportunity for him to participate and interact with other artists. Interestingly, the organisers found his work on the internet. “And I would do it again in a heartbeat,” he declared, upbeat about tomorrow.
However, the question that continues to nag art lovers is: where are the African art lovers? “In western countries, what is perceived as African art are mostly the masks, and other related wood frames and carvings. Most African arts are categorised as contemporary paintings,” he said.
Another unique thing about Udogwu is his predilection to paint on large canvases, because it gives him the latitude to take on multiple tasks. Such projects take him about one to two weeks to complete, especially when the medium is in oil paint.
Since his sculptures are mostly decorative sizes, he works with special wood glue with nail wood gun to stitch where necessary for adhesiveness. That’s not alI to his artistry, though. “I do exercise my creative moments by working with leather bracelets and trinkets,” he noted.
He is also a photographer, and has a collection of fantastic photos in his studio. “Photography has a calming effect on me only because I choose the type of atmosphere to go outdoors and shoot. Photography allows me to take a walk either in my neighborhood or the city. I am intrigued by the steady click of the camera,” said Udogwu, master of the arts.