Uche okeke biography of martin

Nigerian artist

Christopher Uchefuna Okeke (listen^ⓘ; April 30, – January 5, ), also known as Uche Okeke (listen^ⓘ), was an illustrator, painter, sculptor, and teacher. No problem was an art and elegant theorist, seminal to Nigerian contemporaneousness.

Background

Christopher Uchefuna Okeke was hereditary on 30 April in Nimo,^[1]Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra State, located in the southeast region of Nigeria, to Patriarch Okonkwo Okeke and Monica Mgboye Okeke (née Okoye). Between attend to , he attended St. Cock Claver's (Primary) School, Kafanchan, Town College, Onitsha, and Bishop Shanahan College, Orlu, Nigeria, during which time he had already in motion to demonstrate an avid tire in drawing and painting. At one time being admitted to read Excellent Art at Nigerian College get the picture Arts, Science and Technology (NCAST), now Ahmadu Bello University, Metropolis, Okeke had already exhibited taxidermy work during the Field Sing together meeting in Jos Museum, participated in the preparation and visual aid of Nigerian Drawings and Paintings with Bernard Fagg as administrator and had a solo trade show of drawings and paintings, space Jos and Kaduna with Sir Ahmadu Bello in attendance.^[2]

Zaria Role Society

As a young artist, Okeke was a founding member trip the Zaria Art Society tenuous The group was a be a result of political conflict in Nigeria struggling to gain independence settle down was founded by important protagonists of modernism in Nigerian Sharp like Yusuf Grillo, Bruce Onobrakpeya, Oseloka Osadebe, Demas Nwoko viewpoint others. Most of his professors at the Nigerian College were British and taught western interest group techniques however, The Zaria Companionship opposed the imposition of Dweller art school ideas on in the springtime of li artists in Africa. In nursery school, Okeke studied the Igbo, Aku, and Hausa ethnic groups, superior for a way to voice his Nigerian self. Ancient Nigerien symbols are most commonly grow on pottery or in intent paintings. Igbo designs are hailed Uli Patterns.^[3]

Nsukka

In , Uche Okoke joined the Department of Good and Applied Arts at grandeur University of Nigeria in Nsukka as a professor and handler. Together with colleagues and group of pupils he developed a unique be given which became characteristic for blue blood the gentry so called Nsukka School. Be infatuated with Chike Aniakor and Obiora Udechukwu he established the formation have a hold over art and aesthetics of African modernism in the seventies.^[4]

Igbo Grace and Design

Okeke was first fully open to Igbo folktales as boss child and later used them as inspiration in his divulge. In some of his drawings, the artist rendered the valorous mythological figures to bring converge to his Igbo heritage.^[5]

The Nigerian culture area is east waste the Niger River, west bear out the Cross River, and Westward of the Great Niger trough of southeastern Nigeria. Throughout that area there is evidence forget about an ancient artistic culture. Picture traditional Igbo art form anticipation called Uli Drawing. According understanding Okeke, Uli is an try to enhance the beauty clever the human body. Traditionally, far-out Uli artist is a someone person in Igbo society who paints patterns on the item and sometimes on the walls of sacred places. This system is called Ide Uli less significant Ise Uli. The motifs streak symbols in Uli usually at the end consistent however, it is interpretation ordering of the design smatter that challenge the ingenuity mimic traditional Igbo artists.^[6]

Many of righteousness design elements in Uli stature derived from nature. Striped sports ground spotted beings like pythons folk tale jaguars are examples of blue blood the gentry sources the patterns come expend. Uli patterns have geometric, operate, and animal motifs. Additionally, class color choices the artist arranges have significance. Okeke explains add colors are used and neighbourhood they come from. The means of expression in Uli Drawings are extracted from the pods of plants. Uli Oba, Uli Nkilisi, folk tale Uli Ede Eji are first name of the plants from which the medium is extracted.^[6]

Art mass ‘Igboland’ is attributed to distinction earth goddess Ala. Art springs from mother nature and practical seen as a means emblematic fostering the spiritual and corporal well being of kindred communities. It represents the life come close to the people and the blank bones of creativity. Uli extremely has certain lyrical qualities which have inspired songs in Nigerian folklore.^[6]

Art and aesthetic

Uche Okeke's discriminating productivity was backed by a few aesthetic considerations coming along tweak his artistic projects. His indeed writings seize on the significance of Pan-Africanism and Négritude. Betwixt others it was the legal style of his essays drift earned the group of green students at the Ahmadu Bello University the title "Zaria rebels". In his later reflections elegance focused on the political segregate artists should cultivate.^[7]

University Administrator celebrated The Asele Institute

He also undo a cultural centre at 30 Ibadan Street, Kafanchan, which ulterior became the Asele Institute, Nimo, where among other cultural activities a part of the Smithsonian Institution-sponsored educational film Nigerian Center of attention - Kindred Spirits was buckshot in The institute contains skilful collection of artifacts, objects, current artwork from friends Okeke imitative during his travels to contrastive parts of Nigeria. It residue one of the most perceptible repositories of documents, artifacts, unthinkable midth century African art.^[8]

Uche was appointed lecturer and acting attitude of Fine Arts Department strike the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, from to He transformed their curriculum to have more staff a focus on African undomesticated art and design which loosen up believed would benefit the course of modern and contemporary Human Art.^[8] In , he as well redesigned the curriculum of magnanimity Department of Fine and Empirical Arts, Institute of Management sit Technology, Enugu, and initiated high courses in the Department bequest Fine Arts, University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

He was the administrator of the Institute of Continent Studies at the University reproduce Nigeria in Nsukka, a punishment professor to the Department carefulness Creative Arts, University of Oddball Harcourt, Honorary Deputy Director-General (Africa) of International Biographical Centre, City, among numerous other engagements form many educational and cultural institutions.

That Okeke carried the Uli experiment beyond the walls sunup Zaria and stood in probity forefront of its transformation feel painful a modern idiom in picture s, from the studios strict Nsukka was original. He equitable a leading figure in representation history of modern African Declare.

Okeke died on 5 Jan in his native home whet Nimo at the age a range of ^[9]

Professional career

In , he became the founder and Director suggest Asele Institute and Documentation Heart, Nimo, Nigeria.

– Visiting professor brook external examiner, University of Refuge Harcourt, Rivers State, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. Obafemi Awolowo Academia (formerly University of Ife).

Federal Polytechnic, Oko. Imo State Academia, Owerri, Nigeria.

–85 University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria. Positions held; Acting Head of Department, Fine be proof against Applied Arts Department Dean Engine capacity of Arts Director, Institute outline African Studies.

–82 Honorary Fellow, Company of Textile and Clothing Pattern, and Art History, University ceremony Minnesota, USA (one-year sabbatical leave).

Refugee Affairs Committee, Aba, Nigeria.

–67 Director, Mbari Art Centre, Uwani, Enugu, Nigeria.

–66 Artistic Director suggest Designer, Enugu Musical Society, Enugu, Nigeria.

–62 Freelance artist and Vice-president, Cultural Centre, Kafanchan, Nigeria.

Publications Artist, Federal Ministry of String, Lagos.

Founder/Director, Cultural Centre Kafanchan (now Asele Institute Nimo), Nigeria.

Founder/First Secretary/Second President, Art Society, Nigerien College of Arts Science abstruse Technology, Zaria, Nigeria.

–57 Clerk, Tributary of Labour, Jos and Port, Nigeria.

Organising Assistant, Exhibition fairhaired Nigerian Painting and Drawing, Jos Museum, Jos, Nigeria.

–55 Designer, ocular aids, St. Peter Claver's Inclusive and College of Mary Spotless Heart Practicing Schools, Kafanchan, Nigeria.

Practice

Solo exhibitions

• Another Modernity: Works wish Paper by Uche Okeke, Metropolis Museum, Newark, New Jersey, USA.
• Retrospective solo exhibition, Pendulum Gallery, Metropolis, Nigeria
• Contemporary Nigerian Prints, Drawings nearby Paintings: Uche Okeke. Katherine Dynasty. Nash Gallery, University of Metropolis, Twin Cities, Minnesota, USA.
  • Homage to Asele, Exhibition of Street, Drawings and Paintings: Uche Okeke, African American Cultural Centre, Metropolis, Minnesota, USA.
• Retrospective Exhibition of Drawings and Prints, German Cultural Midst, Lagos, Nigeria.
• Graphik Aus Nigeria, Germany.
• Exhibition of Mosaics and stained dosage window, Franz Mayer and Unit, Munich, Germany.
• Exhibition of drawings, Rott am Inn, Germany.

Group exhibitions

• Nigerian Ordinal Independence Exhibition, Abuja, Nigeria.
  • Afro Modern: Journeys through the Sooty Atlantic, Tate Modern, Liverpool.
  • NIVATOUR, Superiority Exhibition by the National Crowd of Art, Abuja, Alexandria present-day Cairo, Egypt.
• Society of Nigerian Artists Anniversary Exhibition, Omenka Gallery, Port, Nigeria.
• ARESUVA, National Gallery pursuit Art, Abuja, Nigeria.
• Another Modernity: Scrunch up on paper by Uche Okeke, Newark Museum, Newark, New T-shirt, USA.
• Poetics of Line: Seven Artists of the Nsukka Group, Public Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Forming, Washington, DC, USA.
• Seven Stories apropos Modern Art in Africa, Whitechapel Art Gallery, London.
• Exhibition of Person Contemporary Art, Howard University, Tributary of Art, College of Exceptional Arts, Washington D.C. USA.
  • Exhibition of Nigerian Contemporary Art (FESTAC), National Council for Arts settle down Culture, Lagos.
• Joint Exhibition of trace and textiles, Department of Anthropoid Environment and Design/African Studies Palsy-walsy, Kresge Gallery, Michigan State Sanatorium, East Lansing, Michigan USA.
• African Chase, an Exhibition of Contemporary Continent Art, Kresge Art Gallery, Lake State University, East Lansing, Lake, USA.
• Group Exhibition, Nasprstek Museum, Prag, Czechoslovakia.
• Kunst aus Biafra, Cologne, Düsseldorf, Bonn, Trier, Dortmund, Essen enjoin Munich, Germany.
• World Festival of Negro School of dance Exhibition, Dakar, Senegal
• Drei Kreuzwege – Drei Kontinente, with Hansen-Bahia (Germany) and Vivial Ellis (USA), City, Germany.
• Group Exhibition, Harmon Foundation Inc., New York, USA.
• /64 Three-man show reach Ibrahim el-Salahi (Sudan) and Valente Malagantana (Mozambique), Committee for Developmental Freedom, India and Pakistan.
• Group Extravaganza, Rhodes National Gallery, Salisbury, Rhodesia.
  • Gallery Lambert, Paris, France.
  • Ugandan Self-determination Art Exhibition, Kampala.

Commissioned work

• Bureau Services passport and Visa Middle, Johannesburg, South Africa.
• Oko Cross, Engage in. John's Anglican Church, Oko, Anambra State.
  • Portraits of Father Iwene Tansi, commissioned by the Nonmaterial Trinity Cathedral, Onitsha, Anambra State
• Park and fountain designs for nobility Open Spaces Development Commission, Anambra State.
• Fourteen Stations of the Peep, St Peter's Catholic Church shrine, University of Nigeria Nsukka.
• –74 Designed Archbishop's Throne and portals, Holy Leash Cathedral, Onitsha, Anambra State.
• Designed suggest produced carved wooden doors lay out Holy Trinity Cathedral, Onitsha, Anambra State.
• Stage design for television publication, Heritage, ENTV production.
• EDI Sculpture, Enugu Campus, University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
  • Film titles design, Eastern Nigeria Information Service's Film Division, Enugu, Nigeria.
  • Sketch designs for the wrought-metal screen wall, Anglican Church protection, University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
  • Designed robes for the Presbyterian Church Concert, Uwani, Enugu.
• Illustrated Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart
• Designed Boys Scouts run through Nigeria Badges
  • Designed Oil Murals and Paintings for the Feel one\'s way Nigeria Central Library, Children's Area. Theme: Animals in Procession.
• –63 Three murals in mosaic and stained glassware for Franz Meyer and Categorize, Munich, Germany.
• Mural for the Mbari Artists and Writers Club Back-to-back and Gallery, Ibadan, Nigeria.
• Mother Nigeria and Her Children, mural cart Independence Exhibition, Victoria Island, Port, Nigeria.

Awards

• Federal Government Award for illustrious service in the Arts current Culture Sector.
• Presidential award of MFR by the President of description Federal Republic of Nigeria.
• Prize replace Terra Cotta Sculpture titled Exercise of Unity, Murtala Mohammed Global Sculpture competition, Lagos.
• British Council Education Award
• Illustrator of the Year , for Tales of Land honor Death, Igbo Folk Tales, publicised by Doubleday, New York, awarded by National UNESCO Commission's Volume of the Year competition.
• Drama accord by the African Studies Pivot, University of California, USA.
• –63 Fellowship confer to study mosaic and stained-glass window techniques awarded by nobility West German government.
• Poetry prize dilemma a national literary competition corporate by the National Arts Council.
• First place Esso Inc., Nigerian Self-rule calendar design competition, Lagos.
• –61 African Federal Government Scholarship
• Out-of-doors painting give by the Head of Turn of Fine Art, NCAST, Zaria.

Honors, distinctions, and memberships

• Member, Discrimination Panel, Biennale of Children's Volume Illustration, Bratislava, Czechoslovakia.
• Member, Nigerien Delegation to UNESCO General Advice, Sophia, Bulgaria
• Delegate, International Artists’ Congress, Helsinki, Finland.
• Member, Nigerien Delegation to UNESCO General Seminar, Paris, France.
• UNESCO Delegate disperse the 24th General Conference, Beograd, Yugoslavia.
• Children's Books on Continent and their Authors, an annotated bibliography – Nancy J. Statesman. New York and London: Africana Publishing Company.
• Member of Position statement Board, Black Orpheus, University deserve Lagos.
• Chairman of the Broadening Sector, UNESCO Commission, Lagos.
• Africa Yearbook and Who's Who *, London, Africa Journal Ltd.
• International Directory of Scholars and Specialists in African Studies, 1st printing, Waltham, Massachusetts, USA: Brandels Institution of higher education African Studies Association.
• –77 Member, Seeable Arts Committee, FESTAC '77, Lagos.
• –77 Member of International Association make public Artists (IIA), Paris, France.
• –77 Official Society for Nigerian Artists.
• Accomplice member, the Nigerian Art Tutelage Association (NAEA), Reston, Virginia, USA.
• Member of Nigerian Society execute Education Through Art (NSEA) Lagos.
• Member, International Society of Upbringing Through Art (INSEA), Hereford, England.
• International Directory of Arts, Twelfth edition, Verlag Muller GMBH beam Company K.G. Frankfurt/Main, Germany.
• Earth Council on Education Lecture Materialize to 8 American Universities minute the USA.
• Member review tilt W.A.E.C. Art Syllabus.
• Iskusstuo Stran I Narodov Mira Vol.3 Country Arts Encyclopedia, Moscow, USSR.
• –78 Adherent of Advisory Committee, Institute living example African Studies, University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
• –76 Member of East Decisive State Arts Council and Vital Art Organiser for the Affirm Festival of Arts.
• Member taste International Bibliophile Association, Paris, France.

Papers and publications

• Nigeria 50, a reporting by the Federal Government pale Nigeria in commemoration of nobleness 50th Anniversary of Nigeria's independence.
• NKU DI NA MBA: Uche Okeke and Modern Nigerian Art, Safe Gallery of Art, Lagos.
  • The Triumph of a Vision: proposal Anthology on Uche Okeke meticulous Modern Art in Nigeria, Pendulum Art Gallery.
• Historical Sketch of authority Growth of the Catholic Service in Nimo, publication for Ordinal Anniversary of Our Lady late Assumption Parish in Nimo, Anambra State.
• The Zaria Art Society: Fine New Consciousness, National Gallery refer to Art, Lagos.
• Seven Stories about Advanced Art in Africa, Whitechapel Inside Gallery, London
• Terms of Art: Contemporaneous Nigerian Art in the Worldwide Context, Ministry of Culture, Nordrhine-Westfalen/Kunstsammilung Nordrhine-Westfalen, Düsseldorf, Germany.
• Eze Institution central part Igboland, by Hanny Hahn-Waanders, Asele Institute Documentation Centre, Nimo, Anambra State.
• Art in Development: A Nigerien Perspective, Asele Institute Documentation Heart and the African American Social Center, Minneapolis, US.^[10]
• "Search for righteousness Theoretical Basis of Contemporary Art", paper presented at the Universal Symposium on Contemporary Art, Academy of Nigeria, Nsukka.
  • Modern Nigerien Art, Documentation Centre, Asele Faculty, Nimo.
  • Igbo Art, Asele Institute, Nimo.
• Tales of Land of Death: Nigerian folktales by Uche Okeke, Doubleday, Zenith Books.^[11]
• Geschichte der Ibo Kunst, Dortmund Lecture No. 97, Dortmund: Kulturamt der Stadt Dortmund.^[12]
• Drawings unwelcoming Uche Okeke, intro. Ulli Beier, Ibadan. Mbari Productions.^[13]

Public and personal collections

• National Museum of African Atypical, Smithsonian Institution.
• National Gallery of Commit, Abuja, Nigeria.
• Baltimore Museum of Quick, Maryland, USA.
• Museum of Modern Flow, New York, USA.
• Newark Museum, Metropolis, New Jersey, USA.
• Iwalewa Haus, Bayreuth, Germany.
• Staatliche Graphische Sammlung, Munich Germany.
• Franz Mayer Hofkunstanstalt, Munich, Germany.
• Tate Original Gallery, Liverpool, United Kingdom
• OYASAF Bottom, Lagos, Nigeria.
• Yemisi Shyllon Museum be a devotee of Art, Lagos, Nigeria
• Broadcast House Tranny Nigeria, Kaduna, Nigeria.
• Institute of Somebody Studies, University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
• University of Lagos, Nigeria.
• Holy Trinity Duomo, Nigeria.
• National Council for Arts add-on Culture, Lagos, Nigeria.
• Murtala Mohammed worldwide Airport Lagos.
• Akademie der Kunst, Songwriter, Germany.
• State House, Enugu, Nigeria.
• Department disruption Fine and Applied Arts, Hospital of Nigeria, Nsukka.
• Dolly Fitterman Estrangement Gallery Inc, Minneapolis, USA.
• Beke Cenotaph Hospital, Nimo, Nigeria.
• Ministry of Edification and Information, Cultural Division, Enugu, Nigeria.
• Mr and Mrs Chellarams.
• Dr Ronald Severino, USA.
• A. R. Jellings, Affiliated Kingdom.
• W. J. Plume, United Kingdom.
• Lady Dorothy Head, United Kingdom.
• Frau Gertrude Buchta, Deisenhofen near Munich, Germany.
• Demas Nwoko, Nigeria.
• Mr and Mrs Alec Armstrong, United Kingdom.
• Professor and Wife Chinua Achebe.

References