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
