Franklin Chu Egwali

One intriguing thing about sculpture is it's ability to bring ideas, imaginations, opinions and philosophies to life in three dimensions; That thoughts can be tangibly seen and felt as much as spoken about. That from materials lying bare on the floor one can create almost life like. The project is a long awaited quiet voice now shouting as an idea incarnated in three dimensions. Having been gifted with skill in the area of sculpture, I have found a visual means to communicating to society that man's mind must develop first for success to happen. This project is inspired by the idea to emphatically look into man’s quest for success, which in other words is tagged "flight" how that the quest for success pushes man to go for more and more understanding. By proof of research it is evident that from the earliest periods man has always wanted dominion which accounts as his success This project is intended to enlighten the public on the need to being resilient in their search for knowledge, because soaring high and being successful doesn’t happen accidentally but by systematic and guided approach to life. This project therefore adopts the exploratory method of data collection. And in material usage it adopts the technique of direct concrete modeling technique in sculpture. This project therefore presents visually, a Nine feet and 6inches sculpture in the round, finished in blue Partina and a touch of gold.

Idia was an ordinary little girl who had an extraordinary dream about a brave female warrior with magical healing powers. Curious, she begged her father to teach her how to be a warrior and her mother to teach her the art of magic and medicine. Little did she know that she would become the brave warrior in her dream as well as the first Queen mother of the ancient Benin Kingdom. This story of perseverance and courage to learn about the history of one of Africa’s most illustrious queens. The kingdom of Benin has indeed experienced so many reforms and development at different periods of its history. These reforms were not solely carried out by men but these were some outstanding women who made great impact in Benin. These great women who made immense contributions to the rich cultural heritage of the land of Benin cannot be over looked in the study of the kingdom; most prominent among them was Queen Idia the first female warrior that ever lived ¡n Benin kingdom. Idia was said to have been a very beautiful and strong-willed woman who had unusual super natural powers. She is described as an extraordinarily- power personality who continues to loom large in Benin cultural imaginations: she changed the status quo and made remarkable developments both in the political, cultural and social spheres of the empire. She is credited for being knowledgeable in esoteric and was also very strong in the use of occult powers. According to Osewengie Ebohon, “Idia was not an ordinary woman”