Dodd Brown is one of the most sought after studio artists in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, where he is based. A committed artist, Brown was involved in a joint exhibition in Lagos last year when the fear of the covid19 pandemic was raging on. In that outing he had some new works based on new concepts that raised curiosity about the uniqueness of his art. In this chat with EDOZIE UDEZE, he talks about a new series he is engaged in that will soon hit the visual art scene.AS an artist, what is occupying your studio time now'I am doing different things with my studio time. I am making drawings of several compositions that I will use to build new body of artworks. Also, there is this gourd (calabash) craft that I have been experimenting on. There are calabash trees in Andoni, I want to create art that is home grown, from natural things found in my environment.You had an exhibition last year amid the fears of the pandemic. How did it go'The exhibition last year Phases of Reflection I will say was a success, irrespective of the fears people or art collectors had attending art functions in open spaces. I do believe that more art enthusiasts and collectors will warm up more to my narratives on canvas in the coming years.Your are domiciled in Rivers State where you practice your art. What feel does that give you ,give to your art and your studio experiences generally'Yes, for now being resident in Rivers State and practising gives me mixed feelings most times. On one hand, it feels like am far off from the point (Lagos) where my voice could be frequently heard through my art. On the other hand I have this peace working here, I am not always in the midst of where my art ideas could be easily influenced by works of other artists. I want to make it big in the visual art industry but I do not want to scramble for everything (exhibition) that comes my way. For now this distance gives me room to work and plan better. I will some day secure a space in Lagos, but it will be a point where art collectors can easily reach me.What media appeals to you most and why'I do explore several mediums as a painter, but the one that appeals more to me is the mixed media fabric. I always have this feeling of moving from the known to the unknown, what I mean by that is I know what my drawings look like at the beginning of an art process, but the choice of which fabric will colour part of the work is totally dependent on the process. The only thing I know is deliberate is that I have overtime selected particular patterns of fabric for specific body parts in my work. Using fabric also gives my work a national identity.What lessons did the University of Port Harcourt art school teach you'I learnt a lot being in the university. One, was having this consciousness of waking up and knowing how to get into the studio and make artworks. Another was finding a style for which to express my art early in my university days.Do the lessons of covid19 have a place in your works'Covid-19 is a pandemic that is not in a hurry to leave, some of my works can have a reflection of it, especially when I hear something that tickles my interest concerning Covid.When is your next solo, group or join exhibition and what do we expect'I do not have a specific date yet for an art expo, but I always strive and look forward to meeting the right contacts to showcase my artworks and share my ideas.
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