Bruce Onobrakpeya
Bruce Onobrakpeya | |
|---|---|
| Born | 30 August 1932 |
| Nationality | Nigerian |
| Known for | Printmaker, painter and sculptor |
Bruce Obomeyoma Onobrakpeya (born 30 August 1932) is a Nigerian printmaker, painter and sculptor. He has exhibited at the Tate Modern, London, the National Museum of African Art of the Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. and the Malmö Konsthall, Sweden.[1] The National Gallery of Modern Art, Lagos has an exhibit of colorful abstract canvases by Onobrakpeya.[2]
Early years
Onobrakpeya was born in Agbarha-Otor in [Delta State]], son of an Urhobo carver. He was raised as a Christian, but also learned the traditional beliefs. His family moved to Benin City when he was a child.[3] He attended Western Boys High School, Benin City, where he was taught art by Edward Ivehivboje, among other subjects. He also attended drawing classes at the British Council Art Club, Benin City. Onobrakpeya was inspired by the watercolour paintings of Emmanuel Erabor. After leaving high school, Onobrakpeya was hired as an art teacher at the Western Boys High School, Benin City (1953–1956). In 1956 he left for Ondo, where he taught at the Ondo Boys High School for a year.[4]
Formal art education
In October 1957 Onobrakpeya was admitted to the Nigerian College of Arts, Science and Technology, now the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.[3] Funded by a Federal Government Scholarship, Onobrakpeya was trained in the Western illusionistic tradition of representational art. At the same time, he began to experiment with forms in relation to Nigerian folklore, myths and legends. Much of his work uses stylistic elements and compositions derived from traditional African sculpture and decorative arts.[4][5]
The Zaria Arts Society, later called the Zaria Rebels, was formed on 9 October 1958 by a group of art students at the college led by Uche Okeke with the aim of "decolonizing" the visual arts as taught by expatriate Europeans. Onobrakpeya has said that the college gave him technical skills but the Zaria Arts Society, a discussion group, shaped his perspectives as a professional artist. The society gave him the confidence to seek a personal expressive idiom. He elongated his gigures, ignored perspective and evoked the supernatural through ambiguous decorations.[6]
Later career
Onobrakpeya later attended a series of printmaking workshops in Ibadan, Oshogbo, Ife and Haystack Mountains School of Crafts, Maine, USA.[7] His first one-man exhibition was held in 1959 in Ughelli in the Niger Delta. Later he exhibited in the USA, Italy, Zimbabwe, Germany, Britain, Kenya and elsewhere.[6] Onobrakpeya was an important force in the renaissance in contemporary art in Nigeria. For many years he taught at St. Gregory's College, Lagos.[8]
Onobrakpeya created the Bruce Onobrakpeya Foundation, of which he is President, and which organizes the annual Harmattan workshop in his home town of Agbara Otor, Delta State.[7] The foundation is an artist-led Non-Governmental Organization formed in 1999. It aims to encourage the growth of art and culture by giving artists opportunities to gain skills, while increasing public awareness of African art and its benefits to society. The foundation organized the Amos Tutuola Show, Lagos (2000). It has participated in many other shows.[9]
Recognition
According to Prof. John Picton of the School of African and Oriental Studies (SOAS) of the University of London. Bruce Onobrakpeya is among the most successful artists to have emerged in West Africa during the 20th century, with continuing and commanding influence on the generation of artists in Nigeria, who have come to maturity in the post colonial period.
Not surprisingly Onobrakpeya has won several awards including Scholarship to Nigeria College of Arts, Science and Technology, Zaria to study Fine Art, 1958. Third Prize, Gottschalk Textile Competition NCAST, Zaria, 1959. He was a founding Member of Society of Nigerian Artist in 1964. Received an Honourable mention for Children Book Illustration, Bratislava, 1967. Culture America – United State of America Travel Award, 1970. Onobrakpeya is the recipient of an honourary D. Litt. from the University of Ibadan in 1989.[5] He received an honorable mention at the Venice Biennale.[10] He was honoured with the Fellowship of the Society of Nigerian Artists on 6 June 2000. Other awards have been the Pope John Paul II award for painting the life of Saint Paul, the Fellowship of Asele Institute award, the Sadam Hussein award, the Solidra Circle award, and Fulbright Exchange Scholar award.[5] Living Human Treasure Award. In recognition of invaluable contribution in the area of “Artist-Traditional Craftsmanship”. Award given by Federal Government of Nigeria in collaboration with UNESCO. May 2006. and the Nigerian National Creativity Award in September 2010 by the Federal Government of Nigeria instituted to honour outstanding personalities in the Creative industry.
References
- ^ "Bruce Onobrakpeya". Modern African Art. Retrieved 2011-05-22.
- ^ "National Gallery of Modern Art Lagos". Nigeria Vacation. Retrieved 2011-05-22.
- ^ a b Robert Barde (April 1978). "Bruce Onobrakpeya" (PDF). The Best of Africa. Retrieved 2011-05-22.
- ^ a b "Grillo Pavilion honors Bruce Onobrakpeya". Vanguard (Nigeria). MARCH 10, 2010. Retrieved 2011-05-22.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ a b c "Biography of Bruce ONOBRAKPEYA". African Success. Retrieved 2011-05-22.
- ^ a b Richard A. Singletary (2005). "Bruce Onobrakpeya: His Art and International Reputation". Studies in Urhobo culture. Urhobo Historical Society. p. 632. ISBN 9780677690.
- ^ a b "Bruce Onobrakpeya". Pendulum Art Gallery. Retrieved 2011-05-22.
- ^ "BRUCE ONOBRAKPEYA". Urhobo Historical Society. Retrieved 2011-05-22.
- ^ "About Us". Bruce Onobrakpeya foundation. Retrieved 2011-05-22.
- ^ "Bruce Onobrakpeya". Contemporary African Art. Retrieved 2011-05-22.