Odoch gives life to metal

Oct 16, 2000

When John Edward Odoch - Ameny started making toy-sculptures out of clay at five years old, his parents beat him up for littering the house and compound.

* Uganda's leading sculptor makes no money because ugandans do not buy artwork By Denis Ocwich When John Edward Odoch - Ameny started making toy-sculptures out of clay at five years old, his parents beat him up for littering the house and compound. None of them thought what the young boy was playing with, would in the long run have a stake in his life. "I used to make models of pregnant women, cars and women cooking or carrying babies. But my parents thought I was just being dirty," recounts 52-year-old Odoch. Today, the towering artist is not only a celebrity among the Langi, but he has gone into international books of art as one of the few art genii in Africa. The Goethe Institute in Turin, Italy, ranked Odoch 98 out of 128 in its 1994 survey of the World's leading artists. More recently, the Smithsonian Institute of African Art, Washington DC, classified him in their encyclopaedia as one of the leading African artists. The Museum Fur vol Kerkunde in Frankfurt, Germany, has also rated Odoch as one of the five African artists whose works have been accepted in the modern gallery 37 in Frankfurt. A well built light skinned man with a bushy greying beard, Odoch admits: "In Uganda, I am the leading sculptor, and nobody can dispute that." From stone to wood carving, Odoch is now specialising in steel metal sculpture. His home in Boroboro near Lira town is more of a blacksmith's workshop, than a sculptor's residence. Right from the rooms, to under trees in the compound, there are heaps of scrap metal, which can easily pass for rubbish. These are part of his valuable raw material. In the real workshop, a number of semi-finished pieces of sculpture await their turn. "At the moment, most of the art collectors all over the world have more interest in metal sculpture because metal is more modern, aesthetic and durable compared to wood," says Odoch. Judging by the cost of each sculpture, one would expect Odoch to be one of the richest Ugandans. But the artist says the cost of buying the raw material (metal) is so high that only a narrow profit margin is left. The situation is made worse by the fact that most Ugandans don't care much about possessing artwork. And therefore, Odoch ends up getting few customers, and ultimately little money. Says Odoch, "Most of my works are bought by expatriates and diplomatic missions. Right now I have a lot of bookings from Israel." A few of the sculptures, bought by dignitaries in the country, are standing in some public places. "President Museveni and his wife have bought two sculptures from me. A thumb pianist and a Nilotic lady fetching water are in State House and VIP lounge in Entebbe Airport respectively," Odoch cites. He made a steel sculpture, which was presented to Pope John Paul II when he visited Uganda in 1993. The work, framed in glass by Roko, is now in the Vatican Museum, he says. His other work was presented to the ArchBishop of Canterbury, George Carey, during his visit to Uganda in 1998. This sculpture is also said to be in the Canterbury Museum. "My work is unique in steel sculpture. That is why people like it all over the world. At least three quarters of the foreign embassies in Kampala are my clients," boasts the artist. Each of his works fetches about $2000. Some of his prominent customers include Max Rora, a director of Roko Construction services. Others are honourable Paul Etyang, Ateker Ejalu, Prof. Thomas Babatunde, Gordon Wavamuno's wife and the wife to the Italian Ambassador. About 12 years ago, when he was a consultant with the African Heritage Ltd. in Kenya, Odoch made a wonderful monument for Kenya Cooperative Bank. "Several of my works were also bought by Kenya government for the Kenya national archives," reveals Odoch. While living in Nairobi as an asylum seeker in the 1970s, Odoch exhibited a number of his sculptures at the African heritage. Being exceptionally good, his works were bought and exported to a number of countries. It was the Kenya exhibition, which paved way for him to become an international artist. "It was the Nairobi exhibition which opened the way for me. And since then I have participated in many international art shows in different countries." He took his artwork to Nigeria during the second World Black African Arts and Culture Festival in 1976. Two years later, Odoch was one of the few sculptors whose works were taken by Kenya government to the largest art show in Stockholm, Sweden. His works were bought like hot cake. Presently, he is working on two sculptures for St. Katherine Girls Secondary school in Lira. The work, portraits of two young ladies holding books and hoes, is to be auctioned on the school's fundraising day later this month. However, the school is still looking for a potential donor to buy the sculpture for it. Born to a prison warder, late William Ameny of Ocol village, Ngai sub-county in Apac, Odoch is a second born in a family of twelve children. Odoch's artistic skills are embedded in his blood. "In our family, we are all gifted in art and sports. We like doing things which are creative," observes the father of seven, the eldest of whom is teaching fine art at Dr. Obote College, Boroboro. Odoch's mom did not see many blackboards. All the same, she was gifted in art and craft. "My mother used to earn her living out of making mats for sale. And I think I acquired the skills from her," he recounts. Renowned East African artist, Mugalula Mukiibi, was also one of his mentors. "He (Mugalula) was a very open Muganda who gave us good advise. It was through him that many others and I picked interest in fine art," acknowledges the Old Boy of Moroto High School, where Mugalula taught. From Awio, Adwila, Ngai and Aculbanya primary schools, Odoch went through Dokolo Junior Secondary School, Moroto High School and Makerere University's Margaret Trowel School of Fine Art. He boasts of being the first Langi to attain a degree in fine art, in 1974. A vocal and humourous man, Odoch has little time to socialise. Most of his time is taken up doing creative work; working on sculptures and drawing. Flashing back on how he started his long journey into fine art, Odoch says: "In 1962 there was a district competition for drawing an alligator. The competition attracted all primary schools in Lango. I emerged the best, walking away with a big prize. Odoch has lived a good part of his life in Kenya. He taught in Makerere University in 1984, before he shifted to Kenya in 1985. Prior to his departure for Nairobi, Odoch had spent close to three months in detention at the notorious Nile Mansion. His crime was producing a sculpture named "Medicine for Ugandans" which President Obote thought mocked his regime.

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