Reflections on the Creative Cultural Art of an Ibibio (African) Artist – Sculptor Sunday Jack Akpan in the Global Scence

Abstract

The arts of the whole world reflect various unique cultures and creative ingenuity of humanity. Ibibio cultural art works of sculptor Sunday Jack Akpan of Africa deserve being brought to limelight. Sculptor Akpan was born on August 1st, 1940 at his native home of Ikot Ise Etuk Udo, Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. His cultural artworks eloquently express the ideologies, beliefs, identification marks and customs of the Ibibios who occupy Akwa Ibom State and part of Cross River State of Nigeria in West Africa. The self-trained traditional sculptor specializes in cement sculpture which has taken him to different parts of the world such as Japan, Paris, Geneva and Berlin among others for art exhibition. He was trained in brick-laying by Mr. Albert Edet Essien. His constant practice in sculpturing with cement has brought him to prominence. Akpan has an uncommon naturalistic style in cement sculpturing and a compelling passion for preservation of Ibibio culture. He had the opportunity to exhibit his artworks in 1972 during the then Uyo Divisional Festival of Art. He did not have any formal art training nor a mentor but rather self-trained with strong Ibibio cultural influence which guide his visual works of art. Instruction in art was advocated as early as 1770 by Benjamin, but the type of art instruction then was based upon personal views and aspirations of individual teacher which actually commenced in the public schools in America in the first half of the nineteenth century.



Author Information
Edem Peters, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Paper Information
Conference: ACCS2019
Stream: Visual Culture

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Posted by James Alexander Gordon