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| No Need To Bleed by Numero Unoma (2011) |
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| Nwosu Igbo |
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| Yesterday Is Still Here by Nkechi Nwosu-Igbo (2014) |
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| Offo Latinu by Odun Orimolade (2012) |
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| Overwhelmed |
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| I Have Loved Nigeria For Too Long by Nkechi Nwosu-Igbo (2014) |
By ADA DIKE
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| Always Stumm by Numero Unoma (2011) |
Emanating by Odun Orimolade (2013)
Notable female artists
namely, Nkechi Nwosu-Igbo, Odun Orimolade and Numero Unoma, showcased their
latest works which focused on self discovery at the recently ended 16th Lagos
Book and Art Festival 2014 (LABAF) which held at the Freedom Park, Broad
Street, Lagos from November 14 to 16, 2014.
Nkechi Nwosu-Igbo
During the
exhibition, a Lagos-based artist, Nkechi Nwosu-Igbo added new pieces to her
collection by showcasing unique works such as ‘Yesterday Is Still Here’
installation (2014), in which she said that the man in the picture is in
chains, and because of that, people now think that he is a nonentity which is
not right.
“This person is
trying to say: Don’t judge me by whatever you imagine about me. He is trying to
prove himself despite what people think about Africans due to their ancestors,”
an interpreter of the work explained.
But looking at the
work, one may guess that it is the way people that are taking care of Ebola
patients dress, except the chains on his leg. “No, it is not. This is an
identity. He is trying to cover himself from the negative vibes. When people
see me as a black person abroad, they assume that I am a Nigerian and feel I am
not British. This person is dragging his luggage and trying to free himself
from the luggage, which signifies that the White may not want to give one
chance to explain himself because they are suspecting you. He is saying, “Just
give me a try to proof that I am not here to defraud anyone.”
In “I Have Loved
Nigeria For Too Long, installation (2014)”, Nwosu-Igbo unveils the challenges
people face as a country. “Everywhere is overcrowded. Some people are standing
while others are sitting. There are a lot of challenges here and there and many
people are complaining about lack of development, socio-economic problems and
we are not helping ourselves.”
On why she chose
Art as her career, she explained that she has always been creative. “That is
the only field I could really be as expressive as I would really want to be.”
Distinguished from others
through her works that has reflected on the educational system in Nigeria for
over 10 years, the photographer, painter, and installation artist cum writer said what
inspires her work includes anything that has to do with educating the Nigerian
Child.
Projecting
in the future for contemporary Nigerian Art, she says: “I think the Nigerian
audience will begin to accept newer forms of art production and be eager to get
challenged more.”
Born
on September 29, 1973, in Onitsha, Nigeria, she studied Media Mixed Painting at
the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, where she was inspired by the works of Ben
Udechukwu and Olu Oguibe.
She
has done solo exhibitions including: Not Ready To Walk Away (2009), Implied
Walls (2006), Creating Space, Erasing Space (2003) and Urban Ugliness (2001).
She
also participated in several group exhibitions including Interrupted Lives
(2012), Old News (2001) Closures and Enclosures (2009), Identities and Labels
(2005), The Rediscovery of Uli (2005), Reflex (2004), The CHOGM exhibition
(2003) and Hybrid (2000).
Numero Unoma
Another female
artist, Numero Unoma, displayed some of her works at the festival. ‘No Need To
Bleed’ photograph (2011) is a picture of battered and bruised woman. “It’s
about women being abused in many parts of the world. She is saying, I don’t
have to be abused or bleed, except when I am seeing my period.”
Always Stumm,
photograph (2011) is also a battered woman whose breasts are almost popping
out. “The ‘Always’ in her mouth means she is battered but cannot talk because
she is gagged. Her black eyes are marks from the abuses.”
Unoma studied
Psychology at the University of Ife, Osun State and then went into private
banking, both to please her father. She later studied photography and
multimedia at the University of the Westminster.
Unoma has
exhibited in the United Kingdom, the Caribbean and at home continent of Africa.
She is a founding
member of Invisible Borders Photography Initiative but has parted ways with the
group. She is a mother of three and a private person whose loves include
watersports and the great outdoors. “Photography just happens to be the
immediate medium for expression and creation right now. It hasn’t ever been the
only one, and will never be.”
Odun Orimolade
‘Emanating’ by
Odun Orimolade (2013), talks about the African identity and our roots. “Though
we are from different parts, we are still one and facing many challenges. So a solution
to one can equally be a solution to others.” She used graphite, pastel pencils
and ink on paper to do it.
‘Offo Latinu’ graphite
on paper also by Odun Orimolade (2012) talks about everything that makes us
one. There are abuses, corruption here and there but if we can find solution to
them, everyone would be happy. Also, as we grow older, we learn a lot and make
amendment for a positive change.”
Orimolade, who
lives with her family in Lagos, studied at the Yaba College of Technology,
School of Art, Design and Printing.
Her recent works
incorporates drawing, collage, mixed media, painting, etching, sculpture and
performance art. Alongside her studio practice, she currently works in the Fine
Art Department of
the School of Art,
Design and Printing, Yaba College of Technology.
According to her,
“Everything inspired my work.”
Another work on
display at the festival is somebody being tied by things from the past and
present. Everything including economic problem is holding him down. But he keeps
complaining about government without managing his thing. “You don’t pay your
taxes and do your civic responsibilities but want everything to be done by the
government. Government cannot come and clear your gutters. The message is that
we should leave our comfort zone and take a step to do the right thing. The
slippers are footprints of people who have stepped out of their challenges but
this person is still there complaining.”
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