Yinka Olatunbosun
Seven years after his debut solo Homme Libre at the African Artists’ Foundation’s former premises in Ikoyi, Lagos, Bob-Nosa Uwagboe is set to hold another solo exhibition he titles Obituary.
The solo show, which opens on Saturday, November 24 at the Signature Beyond Gallery along Awolowo Road in Ikoyi, Lagos, will feature his recent paintings, which the dreadlocks-sporting artist hopes would induce his viewers to reflect on the condition of the contemporary African.
The committed artist, who is best known for his “Protest Art”, is showing his works in three series. First, there are the Obituary series, which not only remind the viewers about their imminent mortality, but also of the transience of their earthly pursuits. In a manner of speaking, the artist mourns the death of loss of human dignity and values. Then, there are the Yeye Man Series, which ridicule the bottomless pit of human stupidity. Finally, the Immigration Series beam the spotlight on the current issues of migrants crisis and human-trafficking.
Among the works featuring at the show are ‘The Mourners” (his tribute to the victims of Benue killings and other troubled spots in Nigeria), “Walking Away” (an allusion to the large migration of desperate youths from the country) as well as “Legless Leader” and “Dying in Power” (a swipe at sit-tight leaders), among others.
The Edo State-born artist says his attitude to life changed after the death of his parents and that of his colleague, Ben Osaghae. Hence, the morbid title of his coming solo show, which runs until December 2.
