I am Dr. Vivian Timothy a Self taught Nigerian Germany based Visual Artist. My paintings carry a very heavy African accent and tells my metaphorical stories, a life in Africa and my flight in Europe as depicted in my paintings below (Flight Of The Butterfly I.II. III.) My Paintings also centers on the beauty, riches and socio-anomalies of Africa. A Continent that is so rich and yet so poor, a story of broken innocent girls and my love for Africa.
I am a nature’s light that took almost 4 decades to shine. A hopeless stammerer that became aware of her uniqueness early in life. As a young girl, I have always had flair for Art of every kind. Throughout my years of searching for my identity, i never lost focus on my dream because i have always believed that my success lies in that unique gift that the universe gave me at the time of my incarnation, because in it lied my power to creat and control my future. But coming from a family with a strong Academic background I was not allowed to follow my inclination towards creative Art. Finding myself outside the shores of my country offered me the opportunity to express my creative ability.
I rediscovered my passion for painting a few years ago though. But in the beginning it was for my own fun. I never imagined that the Piece I created would ever be accepted outside the comfort of my home. Only after a friend convinced me to showcase my work did I find the courage to share my Artworks with the World. Yet, I was still very much afraid of not being able to measure up to all the great artist out there I have always admired. Of course my age , environment and the society had always made me believe that it is over with me; that it is too late to start a career as an artist, but vehemently I refused to give in to their discouragement. I did not allow that voice, that fear to control me , Rather I took control and made that voice say, YES YOU CAN! So to learn and to excel I wanted to go to an Art School. But first I started researching and reading the biographies of all those great Artists that I so much admire.
To my enormous surprise I found out that so many of these great Artist have never ever visited an Art school. Knowing this made me realize that true Art comes from within. It is that painting or that creation that makes you happy, that which swells your heart.
Having realized that opened me new ways to express my feelings and thoughts and helped me find my true identity. Visual Art gave me not just a metaphoric voice but made my voice clearer and stronger. I draw my inspiration from nature. The nature Plays Beautiful Melodies/music for those whose hearts are beautiful and quiet enough to hear. The love for my creator and my Cultural heritage is also a great source of my inspiration.
What disturbs me is the disunity among women. It has always been in the Woman’s nature to be her sister’s keeper. For example, in the african socio- Cultural setting there has always existed a social cooperation among rural women. For instance during the farming season, Women would form themselves into an aid group. In this, they would collectively assist each person in clearing, tilling and cultivating of one another’s large farm. An exercise they would continue to rotate until every woman’s large farmland are fully cultivated. A cooperative help that ensures an optimum harvest for all participants. These are the values that have always formed and forged the bond of strength and unity among women. So let us use those hands that are to pulling each other down, to build each other up. I believe that when women with different lifestyles and mindsets, language, beliefs, ideology and color come together, incredible things happen because in our diversity lies our strength. It has been an incredible personal journey of learning and growth which has compelled me to artistically and beyond connect to the dynamics of the society to create more, contribute, support and serve the community I find myself in. So With my work I hope to inspire people especially women to figure out, embrace and liberate their unique gift thereby finding their true purpose and identity. We all get scared doing something for the first time but when we are able to break the fears that limits us from trying, the sky becomes our limit. Everyone of us has something the world desperately needs. And It is never too early and it is never too late to start. So, start where you are, use what you have, do what you can and the universe will embrace you.
I have my roots in Africa but Europe has given me the freedom and opportunity to realize my dream. So my plan for 2018 is also to use art which is a universal language to create a mutual cultural relationship and bridge the gap between my home country Nigeria and Africa as a whole and my new home Germany and Europe as a whole. And so, I do my best to show the Beauty of Africa as i see it with the eyes of one of her children.
I also consider it my duty as a artist to open the hearts of people in the Western world to the problems that plague my beautiful continent Africa in the hope to start a dialogue with people and hopefully show them that my home continent is very much worth not just preserving but also supporting and developing. I think, this time for Reconciliation and Restitution for Africa by a global community that gained so much from her baulkanization in the 18th century by the Europeans. In summary, i am letting my brush and my color to speak peace, unity and love that is lacking in the world of Today .
TONY TOKUNBO ETEKA FERNANDEZ 