Nigerian Modernism at Tate Modern
Nigerian Modernism at Tate Modern runs until May 10, offering a deep dive into the artists who revolutionized modern art in Nigeria. The exhibition runs alongside Theatre Picasso (until April 12), which celebrates the theatrical dimensions of Picasso's work.
- The exhibition showcases over 250 works from more than 50 Nigerian artists, spanning from the 1920s to the 1990s. - It highlights the significant role of artistic collectives like the Zaria Art Society and the Mbari Artists' and Writers' Club, which were crucial in fusing Nigerian and European artistic traditions. - A central figure in the exhibition is Ben Enwonwu, the first African modernist to gain international acclaim; his bronze sculpture "Anyanwu" (1955) symbolizes the dawn of a new nation. - The exhibition features a wide array of media, including paintings, sculptures, textiles, and pottery, with notable pieces by artists such as Ladi Kwali, known for her ceramics, and Nike Davies-Okundaye, celebrated for her indigo adire textiles. - Many of the featured works respond to Nigeria's complex history, including its struggle for independence from British colonial rule in 1960 and the subsequent Biafran War, as seen in Uzo Egonu's "Woman in Grief" (1968). - The influence of the European-style art education introduced by artist Aina Onabolu in 1923 is explored, showing how artists both embraced and rebelled against this system. - The curation situates Nigerian modernism as a global movement, highlighting connections to international artists like Ibrahim El-Salahi and Karl Schmidt-Rottluff. - As part of the exhibition's preparation, a significant conservation effort was undertaken to restore approximately 50 pieces, including Ben Enwonwu's "Negritude".
