80th Anniversary Exhibition Brochure

7/28/2019 80th Anniversary Exhibition Brochure

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Bruce OnobrakpeyaAn Ex h ibit ion of S e le ct e d Work s201225th - 31st August

Ore Idjubili(Jubilee Festival)

Ore Idjubili(Jubilee Festival)


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ORE IDJUBILI(Jubilee Festival)

B R UC E O N OB R AK P EYAAn Exhibition of Selected Works

Nike Art Gallery, Lekki, Lagos.

25 - 31 August, 2012

SupportedBy

ORE IDJUBILI

C o ve r i l lu s tr a ti o n: I g bu d ia E r ha ( T hr e e F l y W h is k s)Acrylic on Tripty Linen Canvas2012


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Acknowledgments

Many reasons, too many to mention, have contributed to the success of this Exhibition OreIjubili, chief among them is the Grace of the Almighty God who has sustained Prof. BruceOnobrakpeya and his creativity for over five decades.

Gratitude goes to Nike Art Gallery for offering to host this exhibition at absolutely no cost

charged for the space and for accepting that the space should further be used to host aseminar on Modern Art as part of the Bruce Onobrakpeya Celebration at 80.

The Gallery and staff members of Ovuomaroro Gallery have worked very hard to put up thisexhibition. Sponsorship for this catalogue came from Mr. Sammy Olagbaju whoseunalloyed interest in visual art qualifies for a book in itself. His leadership in art collectiontakes visual art awareness to the next level. We say a BIG Thank you, Sir!

Janet Stanley a long time friend and supporter of the Bruce Onobrakpeya Foundation(BOF) has always given donations that continue to help such artistic events as this show.She has made our artistic landscape richer for her eternal love for Nigerian art. Thank you

Janet

Prince (Engr.) Yemisi Shyllon has supported this exhibition through the Omoba YemisiAdedoyin Shyllon Art Foundation (OYASAF). His interest and love for old and modern artis an example of his dedication to the arts. We say a big thank you also.

Bode Olaniran has painstakingly taken very good photographic images and is also one of the curators of the Exhibition.

Moses Unokwah, Udeme Nyong and Ele Opaluwa have been responsible for the variousand extremely demanding design, pre-press and production stages of this catalogue.

Our prayers and thanks go to our numerous friends, too many to mention who embracedus in this Milestone 80th year anniversary celebrations of Professor Bruce Onobrakpeya,we say a big thank you, and May God Bless you!

Mudiare OnobrakpeyaAug 2012.


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Foreword

The theme and title of this Exhibition is Ore Ijubilee which roughly translates to Jubilee Festivityand Thanksgiving: The Jubilee festival and the idea of festivity is central to the works on show.These works are meant to celebrate a lot of things which include, God Given Life, theexploration of talents and endowments bestowed on our lives, Prosperity, Good Reputation,and even a regime of relative good health. This show also provides a wonderful platform and

opportunity to express gratitude to Nigeria and all the people who have made it possible for artto develop and flourish in our society. Our press, collectors and patrons, the Government,institutions of learning and several organizations connected to the development of the arts inNigeria. Finally this Exhibition presents a selection of works in varying media, including prints,paintings, mixed media and installation done over the years, that speak for our God given andinherent creativity.

This exhibition is not a retrospective, so not all periods of my creativity are reflected. It is our h o pe t h at s o me t hi n g of t h e ma n y d e ve l op m en t s ov e r th e y ea r s o f m y a r t wi l l s h ow t h ro u gh .This exhibition also lay emphasis on the nomadic nature of my artwork. Like in the book Jewelsof Nomadic Images, one study leads to experimentation in different media. This often timese m p l oy t h e d yn a m i c n a t u r e o f t h e p r in t m a ki n g m e di u m w h ic h a l l ow s m y a r t a nd i d e a s t o b etransformed into various exciting end results. The works shown are mostly drawn from thetheme of Dance and Celebration, and represents selected art done over time. Other art piecesshow masks which encapsulate concepts and ideas that have been used as studies.

Over 50 works highlighting the various stages of my development as an artist includinginstallations from 1960 to date will also be on display in this show.

Bruce OnobrakpeyaAugust, 2012


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B R U CE O N O B RA K P EYA

byJ E AN K E NN E DY

In the always lively and frequently flamboyant Lagos art scene there is one man whose quietp r e s en c e i s p r e t t y w e l l t a k e n f o r g r a n te d . H i s o u t w ar d re s e r ve i s m i s l ea d i n g. I t co n c ea l s aresolute intent and an impressive record as a creative artist. In the seven years since his arrivalin Lagos, Bruce Onobrakpeya has had seven one-man shows, taught art, executed murals andbook illustrations and been a prolific painter and printmaker.

I n t h e l a s t f ew y e a r s he h a s w o n p a rt i c u l ar p r a i s e f or h i s l o w r e l i e f s cu l p t ur e , a n o th e r a s p ec t o f his flexible talent. Working in this medium led him into other experiments as a printmaker andresulted in a series of deeply embossed linocuts and etchings. A collection of these etchingswas recently shown in the United States in February and March of 1971 at American University,Washington, D.C.

Onobrakpeya is one of a number of talented Nigerians who were a part of an exciting epoch inLagos. After independence and before the war there was a

l i ve ly c ul t ur al e xc ha ng e b et we en a rt is ts i n a ll f ie ld s, w it hr e c i pr o c a l i n s p ir a t i o n a n d pa r t i c ip a t i on i n v ar i o u s a r t i s ti cproductions. In the midst of this largely urban phenomenon,O n o b ra k p ey a w a s a b l e t o d r a w o n h i s o w n U r ho b o m y t ho l o gyand imagery from the area of the Midwest Niger delta, usingthem as ingredients for a contemporary perspective. Hedescribes his efforts as an attempt to create a synthesis. I tryto speak to the present about the future and in the processchoose what I wish from the past... Nigerian legends, mythsa n d r e l i g i o u s p h i l o s o p h i e s p o w e r f u l l y i m a g i n a t i v e a n dinspiring.

B o r n i n A g b a r h a - O t o r n e a r U g h e l l i i n t h e M i d w e s t ,Onobrakpeya first went to school in Sapele and later in Benin.The four years following graduation he taught art in highschools in Ondo and Benin. In 1957 he went to Zaria andcompleted the four-year course at the then Nigerian College of Technology. A year later he was awarded the post-graduate art

Teachers certificate and was appointed art master for St. Gregorys College.

His interest in etching began when he was invited to attend an etching workshop conducted by

the Dutch artist, Ru van Rossem, at the Mbari Mbayo Club in Oshogbo. While many painterswith academic training are quite naturally reluctant to admit that accomplished work can occur by way of workshop shortcuts, Onobrakpeya is one of those who sees the work of the self-trained artist objectively and as a source of inspiration. Working alongside previously untrainedparticipants in a stimulating atmosphere, some of his finest work emerged and the experienceh a d a l i b e ra t i n g e f f ec t . E v e nt u a l l y s u c ce s s f ul s a l e s o f h i s p r i n t s e n a bl e d h i m t o i m p o rt a netching press, and in 1967 he began producing color etchings. He is not only a meticulouscraftsman, but he keeps a detailed and accurate record of each issue he produces. However,he says, I do not produce prints just for the joy of getting many copies of an idea. Often I never g o b ey o n d t h r e e s u c ce s s fu l p u l l s. C o n c ep t s a re s o me t i m es e n r ic h e d b y a cc i d e nt a l r e s u lt s .Printmaking should not be dull routine. I like to improvise, to leave room for discoveries. This is

why I run experimental series.

Leopard in a Cornfield

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His latest, most imposing work is a series of twelve eight-by-four foot paintings for St. PaulsChurch in Ebute Metta, Lagos. He spent months planning the project and completed it ineight weeks vacation time, a strenuous test of endurance. In these paintings he created an e w A f r i ca n v e r s io n o f t h e S t a ti o n s o f t h e C ro s s , i n te r p r et i n g t h e p as s i o n of C h r i s t a s adrama of victorious sacrifice. He painted the cross not as a tree of shame, but as atriumphant banner throughout ( St. Pauls Church Bulletin ). He has recently been asked to

illustrate the official Nigerian catechism. Many sides of his nature are apparent in his works.His painting Leopard in a Cornfield (see cover) captivates children as well as adults with itscolourful spontaneity and amusing combination of elements. As this painting suggests, hedelights in the whimsical, the incongruous and the mysterious. This feeling of mysterywhere are the Travelers going; what is the secret in Have You Heard i s e n h a nc e d b y t h erichly textured surfaces and the exquisite sensitivity to detail. H is e ne rg et ic s ea rc h f or uncharted forms and design directions and the high degree of craftsmanship he maintainsare indicative of the kind of dedication he brings to his work. At its best it is expressionist incharacter and sets a mood that is almost melancholic. It should not come as a surprise thath e c la i m s an o t h er s o ur c e of i n s pi r a t i on : N a t ur e i s ri c h wi t h m an y t i ny b e a ut i f u l t h i n gs .Sometimes they are so tiny that the ordinary man propelled by the jet-age spirit can hardlyn o t i ce t h e m . A n a r t is t h a s a d ut y t o d r aw a t t e nt i o n t o t he m . T h i s i s c e r t ai n l y a p ar t o f h i sachievement. In addition and perhaps more significantly, Bruce Onobrakpeya has alreadyresolved the conflict of identity, an inherent problem for an artist of contemporary vision, andis now building on his rich heritage.

African ArtsWinter 1972

Title: Have You Hear d

Medium: Se rigraphYear: 2010

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Title: Four Pilla rs of ProgressMedium: Brass fo il plastocastSize: 152 x 211 cmYear: 1981

Title: Ibiri ( Empower ment)Medium: Brass foil plastocastSize: 152 x 211 cm

Yea r: 198 1

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Title: Dance to Enchanting Songs (Blue)Medium: Acr ylic on Tr ipto Linen CanvasSize: 226 x 15 2 cmYear: 2010

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Title: Protesting YouthsMedium: Acrylic on Tripto Line n Ca nvasSize: 2 26.5 x 148.8 cmYe ar: 2 005

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Title: Suffering Ma ssesMedium: Acylic stud y o n Dipt ych L in en CanvasSize: 111 x 91.5 cmYear: 2 005

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Title : Oracle IVMed iu m: Mixed MediaSize : 96.5 x 67.5 cm

Year: 2011

Title: Oracle VIMedium: Mixed MediaSize: 94 x 94 cmYear: 2010

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Title: Good Governance Jubilee FanMedium: Brass Foil Relief Size: 64 x 4 2 cmYea r: 201 0

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Title: Leo pard on a wa lkMedium: PlastocasSize: 80 x 103 cmYea r: 198 7

Title: Bir ds and oth er animalsMedium: Pla st ocastSize: 78 x 1 00 cmYear : 1987

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Title: Ju bilee Dan ceMedium: Installa tio nSize: 270 x 442 x 56 0 cmYear: 2 010

Title: Arinrinr i ( Long life)Medium: Acrylic on Tripto L in en CanvasSize: 1 60 x 209 cm

Year: 2 012

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Title: Ekete Ke ke and Erhevbuye(L a zie st Fig h te rs in Be n in Myth ica l)

Medium: Oil o n CanvasSize: 153 x 77 cmYear : 196 1

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Title: Or acle XVIMedium: Mixed MediaSize: 9 6.5 x 67.5 cmYe ar: 2 011

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Title: Dance in BushMedium: Acr ylic on Tripto Linen CanvasSize: 191 x 14 2 cmYear : 2011

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Title: Nudes and Prote stMedium: Oil o n CanvasSize: 197 x 1 41 cmYear : 1995

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Title: Smoke from the broken pipeMedium: Acrylic on Diptych Linen Canva s

Size: 205 x 1 46 cmYear : 2005

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Title: Ga la Day Under the Rive r IIMedium: Acrylic on Tripto L in en Canvas

Size: 1 91 x 142 cmYear: 2 011

Title: Dance to Enchanting SongsMedium: Acrylic on Tripto Linen CanvasSize: 226 x 1 52 cmYear : 2010

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Title: Eru ( Fear)Medium: Additive Pla sto graphSize: 90 x 68 cmYear: 1998

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Title: Travail of the Cont ine nt Masquer adeMedium: Acrylic o n Triptylinen CanvasSize: 23 2 x 157 cmYe ar: 20 12

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Bruce Onobrakpeya: Time Line

1 95 3 1 95 6 A rt s Te ac he r, We st er n B oy s' H ig h S ch oo l, B en in C it y.

1957 Arts Teacher, Ondo Boy's High School.

1 9 6 3 1 9 8 0 A r t s Te a c h er , S t . G r e g or y ' s C o l l eg e , O b a l en d e , L a g os .

1964 Printmaking workshops under Ru Van Rossen Organised.by Ulli Beier in Mbari Artists & Writers Club, Ibadan ,Mbari Mbayo Oshogbo.

1973 Art Department of African Studies Obafemi AwolowoU n i v er s i t y, I f e .

1975 Artists-in-Residence in Haystack Mountain of Art and Craft,M a i n e, U . S .A .

1979 Artists-in-Residence (Associate Professor), Elizabeth City StateUniversity, North Carolina, U.S.A.

1984 Artist-in-Residence, Institute of African Studies, University of

Ibadan.

1989 Artist-in-Resident, Tacoma Public School, Tacoma, WashingtonState, U.S.A.

1991 Artist-in-Residence, National Gallery of Zimbabwe, Harare.

1991 Artist-in-Residence, MOJA: An African American ArtsFestival, Charleston, South Carolina, U.S.A.

1998 Initiated and participated in the 1st Harmattan Workshop atA g b a rh a - O to r, D e l t a S t a te , N i g e ri a .

1999 Organized and participated in the 2nd Harmattan Workshop atA g b a rh a - O to r, D e l t a S t a te , N i g e ri a

2000 Organized and participated in the 3rd Harmattan Workshop atAgharha-Otor, Delta State, Nigeria.

2002 Organized and participated in the 4th Harmattan Workshop atAgharha-Otor, Delta State, Nigeria.

2003 Organized and participated in the 5th Harmattan Workshop atA g h a rh a - O to r, D e l t a S t a te , N i g e ri a .







Bruc e Onobrakpey a Fac ilitates during aworkshop organis ed around Celebrate! Nigerian Art for the Commonwealth(CHOGM) s how, Abuja

2003

Som e partic ipants of theHarm attan Work s hop

Agbarha - Otor in 2002

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2010 Organized and parti cipated in the 12t h Harmatt an Workshop atA g h a rh a - O to r, D e l t a S t a t e, N i g e r i a.

SELECTEDEXHIBITIONS

1959 First one-man exhi bit ion, Ughelli , Delta State, Nigeria.

1960 Group show of contemporary Nigerian art in the IndependenceExhibition, Lagos.

1962 Art From Africa, Phelp-Stokes Fund, New York.

1965 Commonwealth Exhibition of Art, Cardiff and London.

1967 Biennale of Illustrations, Bratislavia.

1967 Group show of ni ne Nigerian artist s. Show t oured London,Moscow and Warsaw.

1969 International Book F air, Bologna1970 St. Andrew's School, Middletown, Delaware Howard Uni versity,

Washington, D.C.

1971 Commonwealth Art Gallery, London.

1972 Gal lery, Watatu, NairobiNewark State College, Newark, New Jersey

Art Society of the International Monetary Fund, Washington,D.C.

1973 Afro Centrum Gallery, B erlin.African Heritage Gallery, Nairobi

1974 Contemporary African Festival, Fiel d Museum of NaturalH i s t or y, C h i c a go , a n d M u s eu m o f N a t ur a l H i st o r y, N e w Yo r k .

1975 Martin Lut her King, Jr. Library, Washington, D.C. Sponsored byAfrican-American, Women's Association.

1976 Gall ery of Litterio Calapai, Glencoe, Ill inois.

1977 FESTAC '77 Lagos.

1977 The B est of Afri ca, TorontoSaint Paul in Contemporary Art, Vatican Museum, Rome.

1978 Tenth one-man exhibition at the Goethe Institute, Lagos.

1979 Participated in the Si xth International Print Biennale, CartwrightH a l l , L i s t er P a r t, B r a d fo r d , E n g l an d .

1979 Held a one-man exhibition of prints in Amersfoort Holland. Thes h ow w a s a r ra n ge d b y M r s. D eVr i es a n d s p on s or s hi p wa s b yD H V o f L a g o s a n d A m e rs f o or t . I t w a s o p e n ed b y P r o f. R u Va nRossem of Tilburg University.

1980 Held a one-man exhibition of prints (with emphasis on printingon metal foil) at the Best of Africa Gallery, Toronto, Canada.

1980 One-man exhibition in Glatt Centrum, Zurish, Switzerland. Itw a s s p o n so r e d b y C I BA - G EI G Y a n d S G S.

1 98 1 1 9 82 O ne -m an e xh ib it io n o f p ri nt s a nd p ai nt in gs a rr an ge d b y G al ar ieG l a h e a n d o p e n ed b y N i g e r i a n A m b a ss a d o r t o B o n n H . E.

Mohammed Lawal Rafindadi.

Am an Arm and c om m enting onhis print before its pres entation toBruc e Onobrak pey a

Her ex c ellenc y Robin ReneeSanders U.S.Am bas s ador toNigeria pres ents a book to

Bruc e Onobrak pey a(Chairm an of BOF) during her v is itto the Harm attan Work s hop

Agbarha - Otor in April 2008.

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G l a h e a n d o p en e d b y N i g er i a n A m b as s a do r t o B o n n H .E .Mohammed Lawal Rafindadi.

1982 Had a one-man exhibition of prints and paintings during theo f fi c i a l o p e ni n g o f A fr i c a n U n iv e r s it i e s P r e ss o f fi c e s a n dWa r e ho u s e a t t h e O l u y ol e L a y -o u t , I b a da n .

1983 Hel d a o ne-man exhibiti on of prints and painting t itledS a b b at i c a l E x p er i m en t s 1 9 7 8 1 9 8 3 , c o - s po n s o re d b y G o e t he

I n s t it u t e ( G e rm a n C u l t u ra l I n s t i t u t e) N I J H o u s e, V i c t or i a I s l a nd ,L a g o s, a n d t h e S o c i et y o f N i g e ri a n A r t i st s ( L a go s S t a t e B r a nc h ) .T h e g u es t o f h o no u r a t t h e o p en i ng w a s S u sa n ne We n ge r f r omOshogbo.

1984 Hel d a one-man exhibiti on titled Bruce Onobrakpeya: 25 yearso f c r e at i v e s e a rc h , a t t h e F o y e r a n d C o u rt y a r d o f t h e I n s t it u t e o f African Studies, University of Ibadan.

1984 Hel d a one-man show of plastograph, prints and plastocast relief paintings to mark the Netherlands/Belgium Week at GoetheI n s t it u t e Vi c t o ri a I s l an d , L a g o s.

1986 Exhibition titled S y m b ol s o f A n c e s t r al G r o v e s a t t h e W h i tn e yYo u n g C e n t r e ( U n i te d S t a t es I n f or m a ti o n S e r v i ce ) , L a g o s .1988 Exhibition of Sahelian Masquerades, Ital ian Cul tural Institute

Lagos.

1989 The Sahelian Masquerade was shown i n:K e w G a r d en Lo n d o n , G r e en w i c h C i t i ze n G a l l er y n e a r L o n d on ,and Pacific Lutheran University, Tacoma, Washington State.

1990 Participat ion in Group show titled African Contemporary Art-Changing Traditions, organized by studio Museum, Harlem,

New York. Participated in the 44th Venice Biennale.

1990 The Horns of Freedom, National Museum Onikan, Lagos in

h o no u r o f Wo l e S o yi n ka a t h i s 5 0 th b i rt h da y.

1990 Riegelsberger Gallery Mannheim, Germany. A show of recenta r t w o rk s s p on s or ed b y A B B ( As e a B r ow n Bo v er i ).

1990 Unity Through Arts, National Museum Onikan, Lagos sponsoredby Guinness (Nigeria) Limited.

1990 Nigeria Images, Annual art show by Societ y of Nigerian Artistsat the National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos.

1991 Rebirt h, Onime Arts Gallery, Fatai Atere Way, Matori, Mushin,Lagos.

1991 Sahelian Masquerade, exhi bit ion in National Gall ery of Zimbabwe.

1991 Sahelian Masquerades, Gibbes Museum of Art Charlest on, SouthCarolina, U.S.A. College of Charleston, South Carolina, U.S.A;A f r ic a n A m e ri c a n G a l l er y C h a rl e s t on , S o u t h C a r ol i n a s, U . S. A .

1992 Through the Sands of Time, Didi Musuem, Victoria Island,Lagos.

1992 Bruce Onobrakpeya -- A ret rospective. One of the events whichw a s o r ga n i z ed by So c i e ty of N i g e ri a n A r t i st s t o m a r k t h e a r t i st ' s60th birthday at the National Museum, Onikan, Lagos.

Alex Ibru and Bruc e Onobrak pey aa f t e r t h e l a t te r s v i s it t o t h e I b r uEc um enic al Centre Agbarha - Otor,Delta State.

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Documents

80th Anniversary Exhibition Brochure