ASH TO GLAZE No other art traces the story of mankind as clearly as ceramics, beginning with the creation of the

earth, the skilful manipulation of clay and later, the infusion of thin impervious glassy coat called glaze on the clay surface. This glaze, majorly consisting of the acidic, basic and amphoteric compounds characterizes the material Ash, a grey powdery substance left after the burning of any combustible material as wood, grass, coal or bone. It is these non-combustible remains, in combination with such materials as clay, feldspar or talc that metamorphose into the glassy surface coat applied on the ceramic wares presented at this exhibition and titled The ash glaze on the exhibiting wares, gives a matt, non-reflecting but waxy or vellum surface appearance that express my artistic repertoire style ,of manipulating clay into forms with varying subtle aesthetic colours from ash, giving crystalline opacity with some effects of wonderful flecking. The exhibition not only portrays ceramics, a dynamic branch of applied art, merely fulfilling functional utilitarian purposes but projects a salient creation of expressive forms, depicting a wide range of socio-political/socio-economic issues besieging our nation here-with bringing into focus, the comprehensive truth of the mind by consciously revealing some deep interest to humanity.

Otimeyin Oritsemuyiwa Pius was born during the Nigeria Civil War. He hails from Bateren, in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State, Nigeria. Otis as he is widely and fondly known, attended the prestigious Command Secondary School, Ibadan; Federal Polytechnic Auchi (HND Ceramics 1993) Delta State University, Abraka (PGDE 2003) and University of Benin (M.F.A) Ceramics 2006 respectably). The erudite scholar in the field of ceramics taught Ceramics/Art at different institutes: Institute of Textile Technology Arts and Design, Oregun, Lagos; Ultimate College, Benin and presently a teaching staff with the Delta State Polytechnics, Ogwashi-uku. Apart from being a teaching staff; he has served in various capacities in two renowned ceramic Industries in the Northern part of Nigeria. These are Labella Ceramics Ltd, Sokoto as supervisor and Royal ceramics Ltd Abuja (as Senior Supervisor). Otimeyin Pius Oritsemuyiwa (otis) is humane and humble. A Christian and an adroit teacher. His kindness has touched the lives of many students. He has contributed immensely to the development of the Fine and Applied Art Department of the Delta State Polytechnic, Ogwashi-Uku. His footprints will remain indelible in the Department and the minds of his products'. Otis is happily married with children.

EXHIBITIONS: 2007 CerAN National Exhibition, DELSU Abraka

2006 ALL POLYTECHNIC EXHIBITION IN KANO 2006 ALL POLYTECHNIC EXHIBITION IN ENUGU 2006 MFA Final Exhibition UNIVERSITY OF BENIN 2005 Prima Facie Exhibition UNIVERSITY OF BENIN 1993 AUCHI POLYTECHNIC FINAL EXHIBITION

OTIMEYIN'S CERAMIC WORKS AND DELINEATIONS

Fig. 1 THE DESTITUTE Otimeyin's 'The Destitute' is a portrayal of the poverty level in every society especially that of Nigeria. This ceramic work depicts that those who are without the necessary things for life, especially money have no other option than begging for which is their only means of surviving. This is their own kind of surviving- bythe fittest. Otis is informing us that our society is full of destitutes and crying out for a lasting panacea of this eyesore.

Fig. 2 GOSSIP Gossip is a cankerworm that has eaten deep into our ways of life. There is no society that is devoid of gossip. Everyman (everybody) is involve in one form of gossip or the other knowing and unknowing Otis work titled: Gossip delineates this ugly practice. Artists, use their works of art to transmit multifarious messages to the general public. This is exactly what the contemporary artist, Otimeyin has done. This work portrays a popular saying: Have you heard? usually carried by gossips.

Fig. 3 THE STOOL According to the author, the stool is a display of artistic struggle and prowess brought about by the exchanged of the iconographed stools between the ancient Benin and the Portuguese monarch of the 16th century. He goes further to say that it is a re-enactment of primacy and dexterity in clay. A giant of Art, Professor Egonwa of the Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria, described it thus: Otimeyins Stool is like some pre-historic sun disc exhumed from one priestly burial chamber. It is like taking clay back to its source.

Denotatively, a stool is a three - legged seat with nothing to support your back or arms. The stool explores the issue of despair faced by many in our society. Many are struggling to stand but no support. The stool is like a baby trying to walk for the very first time and with the support of his mother by a way of staying in his front, the baby will fall down. The message contained in Otis Stool, is that we need support of any kind to become somebody in life.

Fig. 4. SCARCITY Water is one of those things that is vital to life. Man cannot exist without water. At the end of any work man is involved, he needs water either for washing hands, for bath or for drinking. Water saves life. No wonder the popular saying water is life. The biggest threat to our life is water scarcity. A complete scarcity of water means death. There are other scarcities that man can cope with but not water scarcity. Otimeyin is crying out to our government ( the three tiers) to come to the aid of areas facing acute water scarcity especially Ogwashi - Uku.

Fig. 5. BOWL Otimeyins Bowl is a portrayal of our insatiable appetite and discontentment. Man is not always satisfied with what he has. He keeps on looking for more. The opened bowl depicts more or that man is ever ready to acquire more food, or more wealth.

Fig. 6. LIFE AFTER LIFE: Otimeyins ceramic work titled: life after life depicts that life is cyclical. Man will continue his life in another realm after this realm. This means that after this life is another life else where. This work brings us to our traditional belief in Africa. Africans believe that death is not the end of life. They are of the belief that when one dies, he has gone to join his ancestors. So, the abode of the ancestors is another domicile for man. Otimeyin is one of the very few Africans who do not believe in death. Hence he titled this work: life after life.

Fig. 7. HEAD ABOVE SHOULDER Naturally, mans head is above his shoulder. This portrays that the sky is our limit in any struggle we embark on. Everyman is suppose to aim at the sky level as regards his struggle for any good thing in life. The head to the Gwari people is too divine to bear load hence they place the loads on the shoulder.

Fig. 8. BENIN CHIEF:

Otimeyins Benin Chief indicates that he (Otis) respects and appreciates his culture. He is a custodian of his cultural values by portraying to the world, the beauty of traditional title holders in Africa who most often pride themselves in such regalia as coral beads and the symbol of Authority called Eben.

Fig. 9. TOWN CRIER The ceramic piece titled: Town crier by Otimeyin, is the oldest means of transiting messages/ information. Presently, this ancient form of transiting information is very useful in many rural areas in Africa. Town Crier is a grass root information/ message carrier. The gong, usually employed by town criers to arrest the attention of the many receivers, is an ancient instrument of information. The sound of the gong goes very far to draw the attention of anybody in such area where the announcement is going on. Otis is a preserver of this channel of message.

Fig. 10.

GLUTTONY

Otis Gluttony depicts that our society is full of gluttons. Many members of our society today, have the habits of eating and drinking too much. The Artist is of the opinion that too much of everything is bad and not just bad, but very bad. This art work shows that humans want is insatiable. According to the Artist, it portrays the greedy nature of most African leaders who are often self centred and power drunk.

Fig. 11.

EUCHARIST

Christianity has influence Otimeyin to the extent of naming one of his numerous works as Eucharist. It is stated that the Eucharist is the body and blood of Jesus Christ, and he that eateth and drinketh it unworldly, eateth and drinketh judgement onto himself. Being that Jesus Christ is a righteous person, anyone that must take it, must be in the state of grace. Otis is preaching through his Eucharist to man. For the love Christ has for man, he employed himself as a bread and wine for man to take in fulfilment of mans spiritual drink and bread of life.

Fig. 12.

CRUCIFIXION

Again Otis devotional Christian life has put in his memory, the prize Christ paid on the cross for the sins of man. He is reminding us at this time of multifarious ills in our society, through this work titled Crucifixion that somebody came, died and cleanse our sins. Therefore, man should sin no more . Crucifix is therefore, a symbol of the pains Christ incurred because of man.

Fig. 13.

NIGERIA PRAY:

Nigeria is at the moment witnessing false prophets and prophesies. Churches are springing up everyday, converts emerge daily, prayers are endless, yet no hope for man. Otis is using his ceramic work labelled Nigeria Pray to reach out to millions of Nigerians the need to continue praying. Prayer changes bad for good. Prayer is a means of bring God close to oneself. Even Jesus Christ prayed to God and taught his disciples how to pray. It is the mightiest weapon a country like Nigeria should acquire. In his word pray in faith and faith with work. Ohwonohwo Titus expresses thus; Otimeyin has disseminates different themes to the world through his many works of art. He has displayed the beauty of ceramics.