Info For Yous Ben Enwonwu: The Igbo`S Pan-Africanist Sculptor, Painter In Addition To Africa`S Greatest Artist
“Art is non static, similar culture. Art changes its shape with the times. It is setting the clock dorsum to hold back that the fine art shape of Africa today must resemble that of yesterday otherwise the one-time volition non reverberate the African image. African fine art has always, fifty-fifty long earlier western influence, continued to evolve through alter together with adaptation to novel circumstances. And inwards similar manner, the African stance of fine art has followed the tendency of cultural alter upward to the modern times”. Ben Enwonwu, 1950
He i time said "I volition non pick out an inferior seat inwards the fine art world. Nor take away hold my fine art called African because I take away hold non correctly together with properly given seem to my reality. I take away hold consistently fought against that form of philosophy because it is bogus." European artists similar Picasso, Braque together with Vlaminck were influenced past times African art. Everybody sees that together with is non opposed to it. But when they come across African artists who are influenced past times their European preparation together with technique, they hold back that African to stick to their traditional forms fifty-fifty if he bends downwards to copying them. I create non re-create traditional art. I similar what I come across inwards the industrial plant of people similar Giacometti but I create non re-create them. I knew Giacometti personally inwards England, you lot know. I knew he was influenced past times African sculptures. But I would non live influenced past times Giacometti, because he was influenced past times my ancestors".
With regards to Enwonwu`s Pan-Africanist attributes, Paul Chike Dike, Director of the Nigerian Gallery of Modern Art posits "'He was a pan-Africanist, a national together with international figure who represented renaissance Africa inwards terms of his ideals together with achievements. He was a human being who made a score that gave us pride that nosotros are blacks, together with confidence that inwards inventiveness nosotros tin equal other races of mankind."
He received an MBE in 1958 from queen Elizabeth for his particular artistic move inwards United Kingdom of Great Britain together with Northern Ireland of Britain together with Northern Republic of Ireland together with Africa together with was awarded Nigerian National Merit Award inwards 1980. Enwonwu married twice, had 4 sons, together with 5 daughters.He died inwards Lagos in 5 Feb 1994.
Ben Enwonwu was born a twin on 14th July 1921 into the noble identify unit of measurement of Umueze-Aroli inwards Onitsha, Nigeria. His father, Omenka Odigwe Emeka Enwonwu was a technician who worked with the Royal Niger Company. He was also a fellow member of the Onitsha Council of Chiefs together with a traditional sculptor of repute. His mother, Ilom was a successful textile merchant.
“Ben Enwonwu inwards his fine art studio inwards Ikoyi, suburb of Lagos, Nigeria,” photograph past times Eliot Elisofon, 1959, EEPA EECL 7027, Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives, National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institution: earthmatters2013.
His artistic talent which he exhibited at a rattling early on phase past times partaking inwards the identify unit of measurement special merchandise that made them famous with other families inwards his abode town was spotted during his primary schoolhouse days together with flowered at Government Colleges, inwards Ibadan together with Umuahia, where he was a pupil from 1934 to 1939.
As a number of his particular abilities inwards art, he was made to start his fine art preparation nether an European called Kenneth Murray. Between 1940 together with 1944 he was fine art master copy inwards a number of regime educational institutions. The schools included Government College, Umuahia — his alma mater; Mission School inwards Calabar Province betwixt 1940 -1941 together with Edo College, Republic of Benin City, 1941-1943. He won a scholarship from Shell of United Mexican States to farther his didactics inwards Britain, when i of his early on works, Making Man, inwards wood- brush together with leaves, attracted favourable attention.
“Ben Enwonwu inwards his fine art studio inwards Ikoyi, suburb of Lagos, Nigeria,” photograph past times Eliot Elisofon, 1959, EEPA EECL 7027, Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives, National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institution: earthmatters2013.
Enwonwu studied at Goldsmith College, London inwards 1944. He also attended Ruskin College, Oxford, England 1944-1946; Ashmolean College together with survive Slade School of Fine Arts, Oxford, 1946-1948.
He graduated from at that topographic point with foremost shape honours together with did postgraduate courses inwards anthropology together with ethnography at the University of California, USA together with Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, USA.
Ben Enwonwu with Nigeria`s foremost government minister of Information, Chief Theophilus Ben inspecting Enwonwu`s finished sculptural move of Queen Elizabeth inwards Nigeria.
Ben Enwonwu came dorsum to Nigeria after his studies abroad to bring together the colonial management inwards the evolution of his people intellectually together with creatively. The Queen sat for him for a statue which straightaway stands at the entrance of the Parliament Buildings inwards Lagos.
Due to his creative proficiency, he was to subsequently move an fine art adviser to the together with then Nigerian government. He toured together with lectured inwards the U.S. of A. of America inwards the 1950s together with executed many commissions equally a freelance artist.
In 1956, he was commissioned to sculpt a bronze portrait of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II.
Enwonwu together with HRH Queen Elizabeth watching Enwonwu`s sculptural move of her
The sittings for the actual sculpting began at Buckingham Palace together with the resulting total length bronze statue was shown at the Royal Society of British Artists (RSBA) Gallery to which he had been elected together with the Tate Gallery.
Among his many masterpieces is “Anyawu” or The Awakening (1955) which on Oct 5, 1966, the Federal Government, on behalf of the Nigerian people presented equally a special gift to the United Nations. The sculpture is prominently displayed at the entrance hall of the headquarters of the United Nations inwards New York. It is seen equally the symbol of the emancipation of the emergent African continent together with her right to self-expression.
TITLENigerian National Museum
NATIONNigeria
DETAILFront view. Bronze statue, Anyanwu, "The Awakening, " past times Nigerian creative individual Ben Enwonwu.
CITYLagos
CE DATE OF CONSTRUCTION1957
In 1959 Enwonwu rejoined the Nigerian populace service equally fine art supervisor. Nine years subsequently he gave this labor upward to concentrate on his ain work, belongings exhibitions inwards Europe, North America together with other parts of the world, together with did non homecoming to full-time job until 1971.
He subsequently became the editor, Nigeria Magazine from 1966; Fellow, University of Lagos, Lagos, 1966-1968; cultural advisor to the Nigerian regime 1968-1971 together with visiting creative individual at the Institute of African Studies, Howard University, Washington, D.C.
Enwonwu was appointed the foremost Professor of Fine Arts, University of Ife, Ile-Ife, 1971-1975 together with fine art consultant to the International Secretariat, Second World Black together with African Festival of Arts together with Culture (FESTAC), Lagos, 1977. He executed portraits of Nigerians equally individual commissions; illustrated Amos Tutuola’s novel, The Brave African Huntress together with maintained a studio inwards London.
He was also a Fellow, Royal Anthropological Institute, London together with fellow member of the Royal Academy of Arts, London.
Ben Enwonwu at work
Public declarations or the raising of dust were never Ben Enwonwu's strongest points. But he was non ever successful inwards keeping away from populace attending equally the media ofttimes wanted him to brand pronouncements, if non on politics, at to the lowest degree most his art. He was interested inwards people appreciating his creative move but declared to a greater extent than or less of it to live beyond purchase. He told the even i time of making a sale to an expatriate. 'The next morning, I went to the airport, intercepted the human being equally he was most to board an aircraft. I took dorsum my move together with returned his money.'
On to a greater extent than or less other occasion, Enwonwu expressed dissatisfaction with the dry reason of preservation of art-works inwards Nigeria. He had to complain inwards the press earlier his 14ft bronze of Sango, the Yoruba god of thunder, was placed inwards front end of the headquarters of the Electricity Authority together with overlooking the Lagos Lagoon, where it would live shielded from the ravages of the elements.
But he was upset most when his statue of the Risen Christ, at the Chapel of the Resurrection, University of Ibadan, was torched inwards 1986, equally a fallout of the religious intolerance withal beingness promoted for selfish ends past times unscrupulous politicians. When he made the move inwards the Fifties, he fasted for 3 days for spiritual guidance to merge with his innate skills. He restored the statue, after the same ritual of self-denial, without raising a phonation inwards complaint.
"Dancers" 1980 past times Ben Enwonwu
Prof. Ben Enwonwu’s move is displayed where it has flora abode inwards the National Gallery of Modern Art, Lagos. He died inwards 1994 after a meritorious service to Nigerian fine art life.
Unveiling ceremony of the Queen
source:http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/obituary-ben-enwonwu-1394477.html
Ben Enwonwu , The Durbar of Eid ul-Fitr, Kano, Nigeria, broke the artist’s previous best past times selling for £193,250.
Photo source:http://nigerianartdiglibrary.wordpress.com/crucified-gods-galore/
http://dailyindependentnig.com/2012/11/akinola-lasekans-artistic-strides-glow-40-years-after-his-demise/
Negritude Ben Enwonwu (1957)
“Negritude was an seem of Blackness, a celebration of the Black image. It was a peachy source of artistic wealth that Senghor, who had therefore much inwards him of poetry, personified. We, the artists, to a greater extent than or less drank from the fruits of his knowledge. I went to my abode at Onitsha together with began to utilisation to a greater extent than or less of the traditional dances — especially the trip the lite fantastic movements together with the colors — equally a footing for representation.”
He i time said "I volition non pick out an inferior seat inwards the fine art world. Nor take away hold my fine art called African because I take away hold non correctly together with properly given seem to my reality. I take away hold consistently fought against that form of philosophy because it is bogus." European artists similar Picasso, Braque together with Vlaminck were influenced past times African art. Everybody sees that together with is non opposed to it. But when they come across African artists who are influenced past times their European preparation together with technique, they hold back that African to stick to their traditional forms fifty-fifty if he bends downwards to copying them. I create non re-create traditional art. I similar what I come across inwards the industrial plant of people similar Giacometti but I create non re-create them. I knew Giacometti personally inwards England, you lot know. I knew he was influenced past times African sculptures. But I would non live influenced past times Giacometti, because he was influenced past times my ancestors".
With regards to Enwonwu`s Pan-Africanist attributes, Paul Chike Dike, Director of the Nigerian Gallery of Modern Art posits "'He was a pan-Africanist, a national together with international figure who represented renaissance Africa inwards terms of his ideals together with achievements. He was a human being who made a score that gave us pride that nosotros are blacks, together with confidence that inwards inventiveness nosotros tin equal other races of mankind."
Bronze figure past times Ben Enwonwu
He received an MBE in 1958 from queen Elizabeth for his particular artistic move inwards United Kingdom of Great Britain together with Northern Ireland of Britain together with Northern Republic of Ireland together with Africa together with was awarded Nigerian National Merit Award inwards 1980. Enwonwu married twice, had 4 sons, together with 5 daughters.He died inwards Lagos in 5 Feb 1994.
"Dancing Girls" 1947 past times Ben Enwonwu
Ben Enwonwu was born a twin on 14th July 1921 into the noble identify unit of measurement of Umueze-Aroli inwards Onitsha, Nigeria. His father, Omenka Odigwe Emeka Enwonwu was a technician who worked with the Royal Niger Company. He was also a fellow member of the Onitsha Council of Chiefs together with a traditional sculptor of repute. His mother, Ilom was a successful textile merchant.
“Ben Enwonwu inwards his fine art studio inwards Ikoyi, suburb of Lagos, Nigeria,” photograph past times Eliot Elisofon, 1959, EEPA EECL 7027, Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives, National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institution: earthmatters2013.
His artistic talent which he exhibited at a rattling early on phase past times partaking inwards the identify unit of measurement special merchandise that made them famous with other families inwards his abode town was spotted during his primary schoolhouse days together with flowered at Government Colleges, inwards Ibadan together with Umuahia, where he was a pupil from 1934 to 1939.
Ben Enwonwu chats with Nigeria`s prime number minister, Sir Alhaji Abubakar Tafawa Balewa
As a number of his particular abilities inwards art, he was made to start his fine art preparation nether an European called Kenneth Murray. Between 1940 together with 1944 he was fine art master copy inwards a number of regime educational institutions. The schools included Government College, Umuahia — his alma mater; Mission School inwards Calabar Province betwixt 1940 -1941 together with Edo College, Republic of Benin City, 1941-1943. He won a scholarship from Shell of United Mexican States to farther his didactics inwards Britain, when i of his early on works, Making Man, inwards wood- brush together with leaves, attracted favourable attention.
“Ben Enwonwu inwards his fine art studio inwards Ikoyi, suburb of Lagos, Nigeria,” photograph past times Eliot Elisofon, 1959, EEPA EECL 7027, Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives, National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institution: earthmatters2013.
Enwonwu studied at Goldsmith College, London inwards 1944. He also attended Ruskin College, Oxford, England 1944-1946; Ashmolean College together with survive Slade School of Fine Arts, Oxford, 1946-1948.
He graduated from at that topographic point with foremost shape honours together with did postgraduate courses inwards anthropology together with ethnography at the University of California, USA together with Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, USA.
Ben Enwonwu with Nigeria`s foremost government minister of Information, Chief Theophilus Ben inspecting Enwonwu`s finished sculptural move of Queen Elizabeth inwards Nigeria.
Ben Enwonwu came dorsum to Nigeria after his studies abroad to bring together the colonial management inwards the evolution of his people intellectually together with creatively. The Queen sat for him for a statue which straightaway stands at the entrance of the Parliament Buildings inwards Lagos.
Enwonwu working on the portrait of Queen Elizabeth
Due to his creative proficiency, he was to subsequently move an fine art adviser to the together with then Nigerian government. He toured together with lectured inwards the U.S. of A. of America inwards the 1950s together with executed many commissions equally a freelance artist.
In 1956, he was commissioned to sculpt a bronze portrait of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II.
Enwonwu together with HRH Queen Elizabeth watching Enwonwu`s sculptural move of her
The sittings for the actual sculpting began at Buckingham Palace together with the resulting total length bronze statue was shown at the Royal Society of British Artists (RSBA) Gallery to which he had been elected together with the Tate Gallery.
Enwonwu observing his finished move of Queen Elizabeth
Among his many masterpieces is “Anyawu” or The Awakening (1955) which on Oct 5, 1966, the Federal Government, on behalf of the Nigerian people presented equally a special gift to the United Nations. The sculpture is prominently displayed at the entrance hall of the headquarters of the United Nations inwards New York. It is seen equally the symbol of the emancipation of the emergent African continent together with her right to self-expression.
TITLENigerian National Museum
NATIONNigeria
DETAILFront view. Bronze statue, Anyanwu, "The Awakening, " past times Nigerian creative individual Ben Enwonwu.
CITYLagos
CE DATE OF CONSTRUCTION1957
In 1959 Enwonwu rejoined the Nigerian populace service equally fine art supervisor. Nine years subsequently he gave this labor upward to concentrate on his ain work, belongings exhibitions inwards Europe, North America together with other parts of the world, together with did non homecoming to full-time job until 1971.
Girls inwards Waiting past times Ben Enwonwu
He subsequently became the editor, Nigeria Magazine from 1966; Fellow, University of Lagos, Lagos, 1966-1968; cultural advisor to the Nigerian regime 1968-1971 together with visiting creative individual at the Institute of African Studies, Howard University, Washington, D.C.
“Storm Over Biafra” past times Ben Enwonwu
In the Storm Over Biafra, the creative individual depicts the emotion that rushed through him equally he lost his homeland. The overall nighttime color palette symbolizes the deep together with powerful surge of emotions that the citizens felt equally their countries sovereignty was beingness torn away. The bluish clouds stand upward for their dry reason of depression, anger together with sadness equally it covers away the happiness, peacefulness together with joy that the yellows together with whites convey in. Enwonwu uses the mutual depression temperature color palette equally a representation of evilness together with isolation that contrasts the warm palette that signifies comfort together with homeliness.
Enwonwu was appointed the foremost Professor of Fine Arts, University of Ife, Ile-Ife, 1971-1975 together with fine art consultant to the International Secretariat, Second World Black together with African Festival of Arts together with Culture (FESTAC), Lagos, 1977. He executed portraits of Nigerians equally individual commissions; illustrated Amos Tutuola’s novel, The Brave African Huntress together with maintained a studio inwards London.
He was also a Fellow, Royal Anthropological Institute, London together with fellow member of the Royal Academy of Arts, London.
Ben Enwonwu at work
Public declarations or the raising of dust were never Ben Enwonwu's strongest points. But he was non ever successful inwards keeping away from populace attending equally the media ofttimes wanted him to brand pronouncements, if non on politics, at to the lowest degree most his art. He was interested inwards people appreciating his creative move but declared to a greater extent than or less of it to live beyond purchase. He told the even i time of making a sale to an expatriate. 'The next morning, I went to the airport, intercepted the human being equally he was most to board an aircraft. I took dorsum my move together with returned his money.'
Sango Bronze 1964 past times Ben Enwonwu
On to a greater extent than or less other occasion, Enwonwu expressed dissatisfaction with the dry reason of preservation of art-works inwards Nigeria. He had to complain inwards the press earlier his 14ft bronze of Sango, the Yoruba god of thunder, was placed inwards front end of the headquarters of the Electricity Authority together with overlooking the Lagos Lagoon, where it would live shielded from the ravages of the elements.
The drummer, bronze, 1978
But he was upset most when his statue of the Risen Christ, at the Chapel of the Resurrection, University of Ibadan, was torched inwards 1986, equally a fallout of the religious intolerance withal beingness promoted for selfish ends past times unscrupulous politicians. When he made the move inwards the Fifties, he fasted for 3 days for spiritual guidance to merge with his innate skills. He restored the statue, after the same ritual of self-denial, without raising a phonation inwards complaint.
"Dancers" 1980 past times Ben Enwonwu
Prof. Ben Enwonwu’s move is displayed where it has flora abode inwards the National Gallery of Modern Art, Lagos. He died inwards 1994 after a meritorious service to Nigerian fine art life.
Unveiling ceremony of the Queen
source:http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/obituary-ben-enwonwu-1394477.html
ART BUSINESS
Nigerian artist’s sculpture sells for £361,250. The figures had been estimated to sell for £80,000 to £120,000 but tripled the high gauge to brand £361,250Ben Enwonwu , The Durbar of Eid ul-Fitr, Kano, Nigeria, broke the artist’s previous best past times selling for £193,250.
The fine art of Ben Enwonwu (1917 – 1994) took centre phase atBonhams’ sale of Modern together with Contemporary African Art at Bonhams New Bond Street, May 22, with a novel world tape for the creative individual at £361,250 against his previous best of £125,000.
His tape work, l a collection of seven wooden sculptures of figures belongings newspapers (lot 129), was commissioned past times theDaily Mirror in 1961. The figures had been estimated to sell for £80,000 to £120,000 but tripled the high gauge to brand £361,250.
The 120 lot sale made a total of over £ 1.3 million. New world records were also laid for over 20 other artists, including Erhabor Emokpae, Uche Okeke, Uzo Egonu together with Tshibumba Kanda Matulu.
Giles Peppiatt, Head of African Art at Bonhams, comments: “African Contemporary Art took to a greater extent than or less other mensuration frontwards today with world tape prices achieved. The national spotlight beingness cast onAfrican art by Bonhams, the Tate together with others has focused increasing involvement on African artists together with I am delighted to come across them getting the recognition they deserve. As the exactly auction line of piece of work solid offering a stand-alone sale of Contemporary African Art for the past times 5 years, today’s number pleases me rattling much.”
Another Enwonwu work, lot 101, an evocative stone oil on sail of The Durbar of Eid ul-Fitr, Kano, Nigeria, also broke the artist’s previous best past times selling for £193,250. The packed saleroom gave Giles Peppiatt, the auctioneer, a circular of applause equally this first move of the afternoon’s auction was knocked down.
A bronze sculpture, Lot 118, also past times Enwonwu, titled Anyanwu and estimated to sell for £50,000-80,000, made £133,350. This is a small-scale version of the famous move mounted on the façade of the National Museum inwards Onikan, Lagos, the electrical flow lot is i of Enwonwu’s most pregnant sculptures. The title Anyanwu (eye of the sun) invokes the Igbo exercise of saluting the ascension Sun equally a agency to abide by ChiUkwu, the Great Spirit.
Enwonwu’s Anyanwu is ordinarily cited equally with the artist’s most accomplished works, non exactly formally but also inwards terms of its positioning inwards Nigerian cultural history. The noble figure, with its lithe bronze trunk arising equally if from the earth, is considered the pre-eminent seem of what Sylvester Ogbechie describes equally “the aspirations of the Nigerian nation together with Enwonwu’s personal intercession for its survival together with growth”.
Enwonwu has said of the sculpture: “My aim was to symbolise our ascension nation. I take away hold tried to combine material, crafts, together with traditions, to limited a excogitation that is based on womanhood – woman, the woman nurture together with nourisher of man. In our ascension nation, I come across the forces embodied inwards womanhood; the beginning, together with then, the evolution together with flowering into the fullest stature of a nation – a people! This sculpture is spiritual inwards conception, rhythmical inwards movement, together with 3 dimensional inwards its architectural setting – these qualities are feature of the sculpture of my ancestors.”
The first Anyanwu sculpture (1954-5), made for the National Museum, Lagos, was therefore pop that to a greater extent than or less other was commissioned for the United Nations headquarters inwards New York (1961).
Ben Enwonwu, Anyanwu, a bronze sculpture estimated to sell for £50,000-80,000, made £133,350. Image courtesy of Bonhams
Ben Enwonwu working on Queen Elizabeth
Hunters inwards the Jungle past times Ben Enwonwu
Royal Dance,Benin past times Ben enwonwu
Woman weaving 1947 past times Ben Enwonwu
Fulani Girl 1947 past times Ben Enwonwu
Head 1947 past times Ben Enwonwu
Figures on the wood road, 1943
The cathedral Evangelist
Art Exchange past times Ben Enwonwu
Knowledge
Crowd Scene 1951
Crucified Gods Galore By Ben Enwonwu (1967-8)
River Niger Landscape, 1963
Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe`s sculpture past times Ben Enwonwu
Obanje together with the Ghost of Tradition past times Enwonwu (1973). Ogbanje: The Ghosts of Tradition is a paradigm most reincarnation that draws from the life of a piffling immature lady that i time lived inwards the Enwonwu’s mother’s household.
Ben Enwonwu with his portrait
of Sir Ladipo Ademola,
The Alake of Egbaland 1968
Photo courtesy of The
Ben Enwonwu Foundation
Boy with hands folded, 1953
Siloko Road
Country Road
Leaving Church
Portrait of Ben Enwonwu's Driver (1968)
Ogolo inwards Motion By Ben Enwonwu (1989-90)
“I take away hold focused on the Ogolo masked shape that is closely related to the Agbogo mmuo together with Ayolugbe mask that is traditional inwards Nigeria. It is role of my recent of import works– comprising Adonis [1989], Ogolo Metamorphosis (1991), Ogolo (1989), Ogolo inwards Motion (1989), Nne Mmuo (1987) Ogolo Emerging (1989)–that take away hold a steady catamenia of thought together with development.”
Purapakal By Ben Enwonwu (1973)
Girl with Blue Headscarf By Ben Enwonwu (1953)
Blue Boy By Ben Enwonwu (1959)
Nigerian Dancers
Africa dances, Eve noir By Ben Enwonwu (1972)
The Fishermen past times Enwonwu
Obitan I By Ben Enwonwu
Using fix clean curving lines he captured this melodic fluidity inwards the atomic number 82 woman individual dancer of Obitan I. The criss-crossing, interpenetrating lines that i finds inwards Obitan I amplify the vibrancy of the move together with weave together the many disparate parts.
Beggar, 1951
Fulani Girl of Rupp By Ben Enwonwu (1949)
Monotony
Abstract figure of woman
http://dailyindependentnig.com/2012/11/akinola-lasekans-artistic-strides-glow-40-years-after-his-demise/
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