Mary Ene Dominion is one outstanding lady who ventured where, in her field of study, many women are not found. Many women artists are found in painting, drawing, graphics, and architecture, but hardly in sculpture.
Born on September 24, 1986, Mary got married on December 24, 2014 and has three kids – a boy and two girls.
She Studied Fine and Applied Arts from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka in 2014.
She told 21st CENTURY CHRONICLE that ’’studying Sculpture enhanced my creative skills, hand – eye coordination, complex analysis and critical thinking.”
So, for Mary, studying sculpture in the university was not just an effort seeking a degree for future employment, but a life improvement skill. “I love to arrange, present and display materials in a way that is aesthetically pleasing to the eye,” Mary said.
So, this skill is helping her in her life generally and as a married woman, it has helped her to keep her home beautiful and as a peace haven for her family.
Sculpture, according to Mary, merges the past and present ways of living where “we have the traditional African way interacting with the current modern civilization.”
Mary said that this is a great inspiration for her. And how anyone gives meaning to any piece of art work shows their ability to interpret life itself, because art is life.
Being married and an artist comes with some challenges, Mary said. “You have to carry your work and family along. As a young mother, at first it was a lot of demand on me, as I was faced with creating time, energy, and finances to achieve a balance,” she said.
But her husband has been very supportive, Mary said.
But while Mary’s husband has been this supportive, not many lady artists or Sculptors would be this lucky. Mary shared her experience in school with her male classmates, and it was not pleasant. “We were 10 in number and I was the only lady among them, but I was equal to the task,” she said.
She said her male colleagues were always intimidated by her strength and skills. She was always at a point she was top in her class.
Transferring skills
Mary teaches sculpture at the Benue State Polytechnic Ugboklo. And her kind of sculpture makes use of wood carvings.
Mary’s art themes are note keepings of timings and events for future memories. She said, “traditional African art especially tries to restore the lost glory and creates awareness to the public. They are not just objects or witchcraft,” Mary said.
The Lady Sculptor agrees to the fact that she makes her art for money, but quickly clarifies that money was not the only inspiration for her, but being able to create something functional, valuable and priceless is what keeps her going.
Her art serves individuals, companies, galleries, politicians, and eateries among others.
