Understanding the local people can be difficult at times. While spending some time painting in my friend Tyna’s studio I met another artist friend of hers, with a nickname of Perfect. I asked him if it is not difficult to earn a living as an artist and how he earns an income as selling paintings can be very sporadic. His response was that he makes “kik”. My puzzled expression got Tyna to explain “He makes kik, mah”. My brain was rushing to try to make sense of the word. Surely he can’t be selling “kicks”, or maybe “chicks”, and the only other word I could think of was an unsavory Afrikaans word, which it could not be either. And then after repeatedly being thrown with the word by both Tyna and Perfect….clarity: Cakes!!!! It turned out he bakes and decorates cakes for special occasions such as christenings, special birthdays, graduations and weddings. What a laugh we all had. I then got shown some photos of his cakes….very professional.
Working once a week in Tyna’s studio has brought me in contact with a few Nigerian artist and I am enjoying their conversations, however badly understood sometimes. They are young, ambitious and quite outspoken. In the process I have been asked to join in a group exhibition to be held at the end of September coincidently right here in the same compound as where we are living: Ancestors court. I was shown the draft invitation card yesterday: 50 years of Nigerian woman artist. I beg you, where do I fit in with my four months residency behind me? And my name is boldly on the invitation!!!!.
I went fabric shopping the other day: Nigerian fabrics. A friend told me you could get dress fabrics quite reasonably priced at Sahads. Apparently a lot of expatriates turn their noses up for the shop, I was told, but they did not mind as things are in general a lot cheaper there. Parking is difficult as it draws quite a crowd of locals, exactly because of its price reputation. The four story building does not look at all like a shop and my instinct told me to squeeze up the stairs to the first floor. There were all kinds of groceries and only a small sign that gave me a clue that there are fabrics hidden around the corner in the grocery shop. Fabrics in Nigeria
The fabric shop area was full of people, men, women and even children, all comparing different patterns and colours. Watching them I became aware of how different my choice of pattern and colours is to most of theirs. To my mind their choices are loud jarring colours and big unattractive patterns. How on earth can they make dresses out of that? Yet by now I have noticed that their dress makers are very skillful with placing patterns to compliment the figures and it does turn out very striking…. most of the time. However when I came to chose a length of material, with in mind to get one of their dressmakers make me a Nigerian dress; I just could not go that bold. I had to choose between either clashing colours or big, bold printed shapes. I went for the big patterns and a more muted green blue colour scheme. I managed to whip out my cell phone to pretend I was phoning but in reality I took some photos.
Tomorrow Fatima is going to show me how to make Nigerian pepper soup. I must tell you pepper soup is only for the brave…and Nigerians of course. It is one of the tastiest dishes I have ever tasted, but you have to have a glass of water ready. In spite of the delicious taste I could not manage more than a few spoonfuls. It certainly beats hot Indian curry. Maybe if I make it I can keep the taste and bring down the heat..???
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