Liz Ndoye

STATEMENT

I love the art of traditional peoples – what some might call “tribal” peoples. I honor and emulate their work. I borrow from their techniques and palette but I do not try to copy their ways or ideas or beliefs. I try to learn from their mastery and blend my imagery and thoughts with what I learn from looking at their art. Having had the privilege of living amongst and teaching Aboriginal people in the top end of Australia I am most drawn to their extraordinary work.

While doing doctoral research, I had the immense pleasure of looking at a vast collection of Aboriginal bark paintings in the collection of The American Museum of Natural History in NYC. My professor at that time recognized my passion for Aboriginal art and challenged me to make a painting in the Aboriginal style but with my own symbols and stories.

This challenge has held me in its grip on and off for 40 years and has been instrumental in my creation of my doll culture. It has inspired me to make many many dolls from fabric I have collected on my travels around the world and has spurred me to make many drawings, paintings and installations that tell the stories and myths of the dolls that inhabit the imaginary doll world I have created for them.