TITLE OF BOOK: Forty
years of Bruce Onobrakpeya in Contemporary Visual Art.
EDITORS: MUDIARE
ONOBRAKPEYA AND UCHE ABALOGU
PUBLISHER: Ovuomaroro Gallery and Studio Press
YEAR OF PUBLICATION: 1999
NO. OF PAGES:70
ISBN: 978-2509-64-7
ISBN: 978-2509-64-7
REVIEWER: DR.
PAUL CHIKE DIKE, PH.D
OVERVIEW:
Most publications on contemporary Nigeria Visual artists are not sufficiently
detailed. Usually what happens is for catalogues about these artists to have
very little information about them, or their works, instead the emphasis seems
to be to have a lot of pictures included without detailed artistic statements
or information about the life and work of these artist.
The
book consists of three interesting sections.
These are as follows:
i.
Introduction
ii.
Essays
iii.
The artists resume and the Appendix.
In the introduction Mr. Ikpakronyi starts by discussing the
retrospective exhibition which the catalogue is meant to accompany. Simon is of the opinion that every artist should
look forward to this kind of showing of their works in their life time. Some of the Nigerian contemporary artists that
have marked important anniversary celebration with exhibitions, include Ben Enwonwu,
Irene Solomon Wangboje, Uche Okeke,
Jimoh Akolo, Yomi Adetoro, Demas Nwoko and Bruce Onobrakpeya.
According to Mr. lkpakronyi the marking of forty years of visual
practice is a new development which
Bruce Onobrakpeya is one of the first to do such.
Before discussing
Bruce Onobrakpeya Mr. Ikpakronyi looks at a genesis of contemporary Nigerian
Visual Art. According to him, this will help the readers
to understand how the contemporary Nigerian art started, the point where Bruce
Onobrakpeya started and how he has been
building upon the structure he met on the ground to help him attain his present
status.
He starts with the period (1900 -1950) which he put as one.
The protagonist artist of this period he stated is Chief Aina Onabolu. Some of
his contemporaries included Akinola Lasekan, J.A. Akeredolu .He traces how they
were trained and the kind of Art they were producing.
The next period (1950-1960) include artists like Ben Enwonwu,
Etso Ugbodaga Ngu, and Afi Ekong. He also
states how this group had received their training in art and the types of and
the types of art they were producing. However Mr. Ikpakronyi seems
to lament over other artists of this period that were not given attention by art historians, writers and
educationists. These include Goffrey
Okolo, Albert Odunse, Eyo-Ita, Nkure F estus Idowu, Holloway, Osula, Odunbanja,
Solanke, Ajidasile and Orishadepe, others are C.C. lbeto, D.L.K Nnachi, A.D. Umana, J.O. Ugoji and
Uthman Ibrahim. According to him these
names started when Enwonwu started and that
it is unfair that most of these names are being forgotten in the
Contemporary Nigerian art scene.
The artists of the third
decade (l960 -1970) according to his grouping include Yusuf Grillo, late
Simon Okeke, Uche Okeke, BruceOnobrakpeya, Felix Ekeada,
Oseloka Osadebe, Okechukwu
Gbonnaya, Nwagbara, late William Olaoshebikan and I.M.
Omagie (woman). These he said
were members of the famous Zaria Art Society. Others who
were not members of the Zaria Art society but were trained in Zaria include
Jimoh Akolo , Irein S. Wangboje, T. A. Fasuyi, Isiaka Osunde etc. According to
Mr. lkpakronyi, all the names mentioned above were the most popular among the
contemporary Nigerian artists of the third decade.
He discussed their various activities in contemporary Nigerian
art scene and said that Bruce Onobrakpeya stands unique among them, "This
he said is due to the aspect of art (prints) which he chose ,developed and
popularized. According to Mr. Ikpakronyi, the idea of printmaking has always been there but that Bruce Onobrakpeya
has succeeded in adding new dimensions to it. New terminologies as Bronzed Lino
Relief, Plastograph and Plastocast Relief are synonymous with him. Most of his works,
he said have intricate designs with interesting textures that are aesthetically
appealing. Printmaking and the use of traditional imageries and symbols through
which he puts his stories/messages across to his audience, this, he further
stated has made attain his present height and visibility in Nigerian art.
Mr. Ikpakrony has
said so much about this genius and concludes
thus: “Bruce Onobrakpeya is one of the most accomplished Nigerian artists,
and has contributed immensely to the development of art and the image of
artists through defining a new role for artists in Nigeria, Africa and the the world
at large through his works. His creative power and sense of innovation
especially in printmaking can hardly be attained by any artists in this
millennium, thus he remains the most outstanding.”
The Essays
The essays are twenty four in number and written by a select
group of practicing artists, art historians, educationist, administrators,
writers and collectors among whom are Prof. Ola Oloidi of the University of Nigeria,
Nsukka, Dr. P. C. Dike, Director of the National Gallery of Art, Lagos; Prof.
Osa Egonwa of the Department of Fine and Applied Art, Delta State University,
Abaraka, David Dale, International Artist, Lagos, Dr. Donatus Akatakpo, lecturer Department of I
Architecture, University of Lagos; Kolade Oshinowo, Artist and lecturer
Department of Fine and Applied Art, Yaba College of Techno logy, Yaba, Lagos,
Prof. Adepegba and Dr. Pat Oyelola of the University Ibadan, Engineer Yemisi
|Shyllon of Nigerite Limited Lagos; Prof. Yomi
Adetoro of the Department of Creative Arts, University of Lagos; Prof.
Uche Okeke, Dr. G.G. Darah and a host of others. This is an interesting part of
the book as their various essays reveals certain aspects of Bruce Onobrakpeya's
life that many people do not know about.
The Artist's Resume
This has comprehensive and a full resume of artistic
activities on Bruce Onobrakpeya. All that he has been doing are neatly packaged
in this section. The section include the contributors list, Appendix, notes and
references.
The entire information about Bruce Onobrakpeya can be
meaningful if the whole text is property read.
Therefore this book
is highly recommended to scholars, artist, art promoters, collectors, curators,
libraries, institutions and researchers who are encouraged to acquire to acquire copy/copies.
Dr. Paul Chike
Director/Chief Executive
National Gallery of Art Lagos.