In recognition of his life and work, this March 16 Google launched a doodle in tribute to Ladi Kwali, a Nigerian ceramic artist, noted for promoting and disseminating the art learned by her family through different generations. With a series of slides that show Kwali teaching the ceramic work process, it seeks to represent what the artist meant to her community and to her country: a symbol of Africanness and African idiosyncrasy.
This tribute coincides with the fifth anniversary of the opening of an exhibition of Kwali’s work at the skoto-gallery in New York on March 16, 2017. “Here’s to you, Ladi Kwali! Thank you for giving a unique touch to a traditional craft and sculpting a place for future generations of women artisans”, were the words that Google dedicated to the memory of the artist.
Born on an unknown date in the year 1925, Kwali She was a pottery artist who inherited the talent of her family, a long line of master potters who taught Kwali the secrets of her art. One aunt in particular was essential to the development of her talent. and he was the one who guided the first steps of the artist in pottery, until little by little she developed her own style.
Discovered his talent by people of economically privileged position, it was they who exhibited his work. Thus, in 1954, Kwali joined the Abuja Ceramics Center where he made history like first Nigerian woman to study advanced pottery techniques. This allowed him to develop a new type of work, where he fused his traditional style with zoomorphic illustrations.
Her dedication led her to be one of the most representative figures in Nigeria, for which she received multiple awards as a member of the Order of the British Empire and the Order of Niger. In addition, he received a Ph.D. from Ahmadu Bello University in 1977 and the Nigerian National Order of Merit Award in 1980.
Died August 12, 1984, the art of Kwali served as an inspiration for the potters of his country, that still carry on his legacy to this day. On the other hand, the government of his country arranged for his effigy to be placed on the twenty Naira bills, the national currency of Nigeria, as a way of rewarding his effort and the talent of his hands, which made known what Nigeria could contribute to the world.
Source-larepublica.pe