Felix Idubor

Felix Idubor
Born	1928
Died	1991
Nationality	Nigerian
Known for	Sculptor
Notable work	National Hall Door carvings
Movement	Benin,Tourist Art Contemporary African Art

Felix Idubor(1928–1991) was aNigeriansculptorfromBenin City,a city with a rich history of artistic excellence. He was part of a young group of artists in the 1950s and 1960s who raised awareness of the artistic consciousness of African tradition in an emerging and nascent social milieu. He is sometimes considered one of the pioneers of Nigeriancontemporary art.In 1966, he opened Nigeria's first contemporaryart galleryin Kakawa street,Lagos.

He was very successful in door carvings and was commissioned to carve doors for prominent firms and individuals such as the Cooperative Bank building atIbadanand the House of Parliament in Lagos.

Early life and education

Felix Idubor was born to the family of afarmerin Benin city. He started carving at an early age, but met some resistance from his father who felt carving was not a financially productive career choice. He began hiseducationat aprimary schoolin Benin but later took a break from studies to concentrate on what he felt was his natural choice of occupation, carving. His first artistic choice of subject focused on birds usually carved in wood from theIrokotreewhich were numerous in Benin.He also used the wood from the iroko tree as tools in other carving projects and was quite successful in his chosen path. By the age of seventeen, he was appointed a tutor at the Edo College in Benin with little formal training.

In the late 1950s, he earned a scholarship to study at theRoyal College of Art,Londonafter his work gained critical acclaim during an exhibition to coincide withQueen Elizabeth's visit to Nigeria.

Sculptor

After the end ofWorld War II,he left the city of Benin and moved to Lagos. However, Lagos which was then the seat of government was also an emergingeconomicandtradecenter with high standards of living. To fend for himself, Idubor turned to makingtouristcraft for sales to African traders and foreign tourists while also finding time to tend to his artistic and later distinctive vision of wood carvings.Although, the African tourism craft form was sometimes called traducible by some, the popularity with tourists and the effort put into training and making the craft encouraged the collecting ofAfrican artworks.

By 1953, Idubor was able to hold anexhibitionof his wood sculptures at the Nigerian Exhibition Center. The exhibition gave him visibility and exposure; a few of his works were bought by American collectors. His work also attracted critical attention. However, it was an exhibition opened by the Nigeriangovernor-general,James Robertsonwhich was held to coincide with the visit of Queen Elizabeth that gave him increased exposure. Included in the gift presented to the queen was an Idubor wood carving. In due time, he was later a teacher at a college inYabaand was given a scholarship to study in London.

Door carvings

After returning from London, he was given his first major project, to design a door for the new Cooperative Bank building in Ibadan. The architect brought in to work on the building chose Idubor for his taste in and talent in carving. Idubor chose a design of threecropscarved in wood, the three crops signified the three main regions of Nigeria. Thepalmfruit for the Eastern region,cocoafor the Western region andgroundnutfor the Northern region. The carvings were well received and further opened avenues for new clients who appreciated his work. He later worked with the office of theObaof Lagos on a wood carving for apalacedoor and also with the Nigerian parliament.

Other works

He also succeeded in other material subjects and also experimented withbronzesculptors and concrete casting.His carving of aYorubagirl was on display at the Nigerian House, London and some of his works hanged as ornaments on the walls of the National Hall, Lagos. His enigmatic work depicting a woman with a crown andCoralbeads on ring road, Benin was a stature that dominated the popular road.

In 1966, he opened his art gallery on Kakawa street, Lagos.