Standing upon Tradition

To understand Lamidi’s artistic innovations, compare the figures from the 1960s with those from the 1990s.

The postures of his early figures are very symmetrical and frontally positioned, giving them a serene composure. The Palm Wine Seller, on the other hand, exhibits a tender, expressive pose, with one arm pulled across her body and the other cradling a nursing child. The Diviner gazes to the side and leans forward, lending the figure a quality of expectancy and liveliness.

Lamidi credits his interest in experimenting with movement in his newer works with his reflections on Western sculpture. During Lamidi’s long and productive career he regularly met artists and visited museums in Europe and America.