MUSON FESTIVAL EXHIBITION

 The highly anticipated Muson Festival is set to captivate art enthusiasts from October 22nd to 29th, offering a breathtaking showcase of artistic brilliance. This year's festival promises to be nothing short of extraordinary, featuring a remarkable collection of works by the celebrated Bruce Onobrakpeya, spanning various forms of media. 

Among the highlights of this artistic extravaganza are the enchanting lyrical prints by the avant-garde artist, Folahan Olumide. These pieces promise to challenge conventional artistic boundaries and inspire creativity.

Moreover, the festival embraces the theme of "Resilience" with a curated selection of traditional art pieces. These works will reflect the enduring spirit of artists throughout history, embodying their ability to overcome adversity and emerge stronger, more vibrant, and creatively invigorated.

In total, the Muson Festival will proudly display around 30 exquisite pieces, each a testament to the power of art to inspire, provoke thought, and transcend barriers. Don't miss this opportunity to immerse yourself in a world of artistic wonder and celebrate the enduring legacy of these remarkable artists. Join us from October 22nd to 29th for an unforgettable journey into the heart of creativity and resilience.

THE MASK AND THE CROSS

 "The Mask and the Cross" are artworks created by Bruce Onobrakpeya, set in the final days of colonial Nigeria and shortly after its independence. These works offer a unique African perspective, delving into the underlying teachings, principles, and lessons derived from the life of Christ and the Resurrection of Christ.

The artist refers to these pieces as "New Masks" because they represent his endeavor to reconstruct and re-imagine artworks using ideas from old masks, many of which were discarded and burnt by early Christian missionaries. 

The New Masks by Onobrakpeya retain the aesthetic potency of the original masks, now manifested in various media such as paintings, plastocasts, low relief sculptures, and other techniques that he has developed and  innovated throughout his nearly 65-year artistic career.

These artworks are infused with the same esoteric meanings, conveying a narrative that transcends geographical and chronological boundaries, making them accessible to people of any culture. 

"The Mask and the Cross" serve as narratives that reinterpret the universal essence of goodness by focusing on the core values that should foster a deeper understanding of the Christian message. In these artworks, Jesus Christ and other religious figures are depicted as universal symbols, emphasizing the essence of Christianity rather than being bound by the geographical and anatomical contexts of the Jewish and Roman people.

 

2nd June 2023

 

 

POSTSCRIPT

The Solo exhibition by Onobrakpeya  which was extremely well received at the prestigious High Museum in Atlanta, came  to a close, at the end of July. "The Mask and the Cross" is now billed to travel to The Smithsonian Institute, Washington D.C., in the second quarter of 2024 and the National Museum of Montreal, Canada and Vatican Museum shortly after.

3rd Sept 2023

Mudiare Onobrakpeya