Production of Mosaiculture and Topiary Art for Environmental Management and Aesthetics in Nigeria

Abstract

The deplorable state of our urban environment and the continuous disappearance of green areas in our Nigerian cities have become worrisome, also the ravaging effects of erosion has become a challenge to the government and policy makers This phenomenon has gotten to an alarming rate recently, following the devastating effects of climate change as experienced world over. The crux of this research lies in exploring the art of sculpture produced through the techniques of mosaiculture and horticulture with a view to contributing to the solution of managing climate change. The study established that various traditional media of sculptural expressions can be combined with flowers and green plants to create works of art. The project makes use of John Dewey’s aesthetic theory and the others such as Ivan Pavlov’s conditioning theory as the foundations for the research postulations. The methodology employed is studio experimental approach and the results were presented and analyzed through qualitative and descriptive methods. At the end, the postulations made in the research were subjected to public scrutiny using the medium of questionnaire, after which the data collected were subjected to simple descriptive statistical analysis. The study reveals that plants and flowers could be manipulated to become sculptures; also, it established that with the right policies and awareness, the general population could come to imbibe the habit of protecting and nurturing sustainable environment. The research therefore, serves as a new vista for creative possibilities in using plants and flowers for environmental aesthetics and management.