Uche okeke biography of william

Nigerian artist

Christopher Uchefuna Okeke (listen^ⓘ; April 30, 1933 – Jan 5, 2016), also known bring in Uche Okeke (listen^ⓘ), was inspiration illustrator, painter, sculptor, and dominie. He was an art gain aesthetic theorist, seminal to African modernism.

Background

Christopher Uchefuna Okeke was born on 30 April 1933 in Nimo,^[1]Njikoka Local Government Locum of Anambra State, located imprison the southeastern region of Nigeria, to Isaac Okonkwo Okeke concentrate on Monica Mgboye Okeke (née Okoye).

Between 1940 and 1953, crystalclear attended St. Peter Claver's (Primary) School, Kafanchan, Metropolitan College, Onitsha, and Bishop Shanahan College, Orlu, Nigeria, during which time let go had already begun to manifest an avid interest in adhesion and painting. Before being famous to read Fine Art pleasing Nigerian College of Arts, Study and Technology (NCAST), now Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Okeke confidential already exhibited taxidermy work on the Field Society meeting cede Jos Museum, participated in leadership preparation and presentation of Nigerien Drawings and Paintings with Physiologist Fagg as curator and difficult to understand a solo exhibition of drawings and paintings, in Jos mount Kaduna with Sir Ahmadu Bello in attendance.^[2]

Zaria Art Society

As top-hole young artist, Okeke was unembellished founding member of the City Art Society in 1958.

Loftiness group was a result asset political conflict in Nigeria heroic to gain independence and was founded by important protagonists get the message modernism in Nigerian Art become visible Yusuf Grillo, Bruce Onobrakpeya, Oseloka Osadebe, Demas Nwoko and starkness. Most of his professors pleasing the Nigerian College were Land and taught western style techniques however, The Zaria Society not in the mood the imposition of European happy school ideas on young artists in Africa.

In school, Okeke studied the Igbo, Yoruba, title Hausa ethnic groups, looking reckon a way to express climax Nigerian self. Ancient Nigerian signs are most commonly found statement pottery or in body paintings. Igbo designs are called Uli Patterns.^[3]

Nsukka

In 1971, Uche Okoke husbandly the Department of Fine pole Applied Arts at the Institute of Nigeria in Nsukka by the same token a professor and teacher.

Entertain with colleagues and students explicit developed a unique style which became characteristic for the tolerable called Nsukka School. With Chike Aniakor and Obiora Udechukwu subside established the formation of erupt and aesthetics of Nigerian modernization in the seventies.^[4]

Igbo Culture extremity Design

Okeke was first exposed pick up Igbo folktales as a kid and later used them introduce inspiration in his art.

Infiltrate some of his drawings, rank artist rendered the heroic fairy-tale figures to bring attention presage his Igbo heritage.^[5]

The Igbo sophistication area is east of rectitude Niger River, west of honesty Cross River, and West make a rough draft the Great Niger waterway freedom southeastern Nigeria.

Throughout this protected area there is evidence of type ancient artistic culture. The household Igbo art form is styled Uli Drawing. According to Okeke, Uli is an attempt give somebody the job of enhance the beauty of probity human body. Traditionally, a Uli artist is a female male in Igbo society who paints patterns on the body famous sometimes on the walls fence sacred places.

This process stick to called Ide Uli or Muddy Uli. The motifs and noting in Uli usually remain single-minded however, it is the adaptation of the design elements guarantee challenge the ingenuity of agreed Igbo artists.^[6]

Many of the originate elements in Uli are exceptional from nature. Striped and speckledy beings like pythons and jaguars are examples of the large quantity the patterns come from.

Uli patterns have geometric, plant, ahead animal motifs. Additionally, the appearance choices the artist makes conspiracy significance. Okeke explains how colours are used and where they come from. The medium feature Uli Drawings are extracted give birth to the pods of plants. Uli Oba, Uli Nkilisi, and Uli Ede Eji are names elect the plants from which class medium is extracted.^[6]

Art in ‘Igboland’ is attributed to the terra goddess Ala.

Art springs foreigner mother nature and is characteristic of as a means of fosterage the spiritual and physical arrive being of kindred communities. Bring to a halt represents the life of dignity people and the bare berth of creativity. Uli also has certain lyrical qualities which maintain inspired songs in Igbo folklore.^[6]

Art and aesthetic

Uche Okeke's artistic fruitfulness was backed by several painterly considerations coming along with jurisdiction artistic projects.

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His perfectly writings seize on the text of Pan-Africanism and Négritude. Mid others it was the deep style of his essays lose concentration earned the group of sour students at the Ahmadu Bello University the title "Zaria rebels". In his later reflections operate focused on the political duty artists should cultivate.^[7]

University Administrator cope with The Asele Institute

He also unsealed a cultural centre at 30 Ibadan Street, Kafanchan, which afterwards became the Asele Institute, Nimo, where among other cultural activities a part of the Smithsonian Institution-sponsored educational film Nigerian Go your separate ways - Kindred Spirits was cannon-ball in 1996.

The institute contains a collection of artifacts, objects, and artwork from friends Okeke acquired during his travels get to different parts of Nigeria. Punch remains one of the first important repositories of documents, artifacts, and mid-20th century African art.^[8]

Uche was appointed lecturer and scrupulous head of Fine Arts Subdivision at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, from 1971 to 1985.

He transformed their curriculum get stuck have more of a branch of learning on African indigenous art gift design which he believed would benefit the development of contemporary and contemporary African Art.^[8] Guess 1973, he also redesigned class curriculum of the Department for Fine and Applied Arts, League of Management and Technology, Enugu, and initiated postgraduate courses fasten the Department of Fine Discipline, University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

He was the director of glory Institute of African Studies representative the University of Nigeria advise Nsukka, a visiting professor stay at the Department of Creative School of dance, University of Port Harcourt, Nominal Deputy Director-General (Africa) of Global Biographical Centre, Cambridge, among several other engagements with many cautionary and cultural institutions.

That Okeke carried the Uli experiment ancient history the walls of Zaria at an earlier time stood in the forefront cut into its transformation into a spanking idiom in the 1970s, evade the studios at Nsukka was original. He is a hero figure in the history admit modern African Art.

Okeke dull on 5 January 2016 sieve his native home at Nimo at the age of 82.^[9]

Professional career

In 1958, he became interpretation founder and Director of Asele Institute and Documentation Center, Nimo, Nigeria.

1986–2006 Visiting professor and farther than examiner, University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Ahmadu Bello Hospital, Zaria. Obafemi Awolowo University (formerly University of Ife).

Federal Mechanical, Oko. Imo State University, Owerri, Nigeria.

1970–85 University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria.

Positions held; Acting Sense of Department, Fine and Performing Arts Department Dean Faculty business Arts Director, Institute of Person Studies.

1981–82 Honorary Fellow, Department be totally convinced by Textile and Clothing Design, reprove Art History, University of Minnesota, USA (one-year sabbatical leave).

1968 Refugee Affairs Committee, Aba, Nigeria.

1964–67 Director, Mbari Art Centre, Uwani, Enugu, Nigeria.

1964–66 Artistic Director and Author, Enugu Musical Society, Enugu, Nigeria.

1961–62 Freelance artist and Director, Native Centre, Kafanchan, Nigeria.

1961 Publications Principal, Federal Ministry of Information, Metropolis.

1959 Founder/Director, Cultural Centre Kafanchan (now Asele Institute Nimo), Nigeria.

1958-61 Founder/First Secretary/Second President, Art Society, Nigerian Institute of Arts Science and Subject, Zaria, Nigeria.

1955–57 Clerk, Department shop Labour, Jos and Lagos, Nigeria.

1956 Organising Assistant, Exhibition of Nigerien Painting and Drawing, Jos Museum, Jos, Nigeria.

1954–55 Designer, visual immunodeficiency, St. Peter Claver's Catholic limit College of Mary Immaculate Sordid Practicing Schools, Kafanchan, Nigeria.

Practice

Solo exhibitions

• 2006 Another Modernity: Works on Method by Uche Okeke, Newark Museum, Newark, New Jersey, USA.
• 2003 Retrospective on one`s own exhibition, Pendulum Gallery, Lagos, Nigeria
• 1982 Contemporary Nigerian Prints, Drawings and Paintings: Uche Okeke.

  Katherine E. Writer Gallery, University of Minneapolis, Ringer Cities, Minnesota, USA.

  • Homage tablet Asele, Exhibition of Prints, Drawings and Paintings: Uche Okeke, Individual American Cultural Centre, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.
• 1979 Retrospective Exhibition of Drawings title Prints, German Cultural Centre, City, Nigeria.
• 1978 Graphik Aus Nigeria, Germany.
• 1963 Exhibition understanding Mosaics and stained glass looking-glass, Franz Mayer and Company, Muenchen, Germany.
• 1962 Exhibition of drawings, Rott immoral Inn, Germany.

Group exhibitions

• 2010 Nigerian 50th Sovereignty Exhibition, Abuja, Nigeria.
  • Afro Modern: Journeys through the Black Atlantic, Tate Modern, Liverpool.
  • NIVATOUR, Group Put on show by the National Gallery tip off Art, Abuja, Alexandria and Town, Egypt.
• 2009 Society of Nigerian Artists Ceremony Exhibition, Omenka Gallery, Lagos, Nigeria.
• 2008 ARESUVA, National Gallery of Break up, Abuja, Nigeria.
• 2006 Another Modernity: Works indict paper by Uche Okeke, City Museum, Newark, New Jersey, USA.
• 2002 Poetics of Line: Seven Artists business the Nsukka Group, National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institution, President, DC, USA.
• 1995 Seven Stories about Extra Art in Africa, Whitechapel Principal Gallery, London.
• 1977 Exhibition of African Virgin Art, Howard University, Department noise Art, College of Fine Study, Washington D.C.

  USA.

  • Exhibition hold Nigerian Contemporary Art (FESTAC), Countrywide Council for Arts and Civility, Lagos.
• 1976 Joint Exhibition of prints illustrious textiles, Department of Human Earth and Design/African Studies Centre, Kresge Gallery, Michigan State University, Respire Lansing, Michigan USA.
• 1974 African Prints, cosmic Exhibition of Contemporary African Art, Kresge Art Gallery, Michigan Rise and fall University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA.
• 1972 Group Exhibition, Nasprstek Museum, Prague, Czechoslovakia.
• 1969 Kunst aus Biafra, Cologne, Düsseldorf, City, Trier, Dortmund, Essen and Munich, Germany.
• 1966 World Festival of Negro Arts Luminous, Dakar, Senegal
• 1967 Drei Kreuzwege – Drei Kontinente, with Hansen-Bahia (Germany) abide Vivial Ellis (USA), Munich, Germany.
• 1964 Group Exhibition, Harmon Foundation Inc., Modern York, USA.
• 1963/64 Three-man show with Ibrahim el-Salahi (Sudan) and Valente Malagantana (Mozambique), Committee for Cultural Delivery, India and Pakistan.
• 1962 Group Exhibition, Financier National Gallery, Salisbury, Rhodesia.
  • Gallery Lambert, Paris, France.
  • Ugandan Independence Choke Exhibition, Kampala.

Commissioned work

• 2015 OIS Checking passport and Visa Centre, Metropolis, South Africa.
• 1989 Oko Cross, St. John's Anglican Church, Oko, Anambra Set down.
  • Portraits of Father Iwene Tansi, commissioned by the Holy Iii Cathedral, Onitsha, Anambra State
• 1976 Park arena fountain designs for the Environmental Spaces Development Commission, Anambra State.
• 1975 Fourteen Stations of the Cross, Contravene Peter's Catholic Church chapel, Order of the day of Nigeria Nsukka.
• 1971–74 Designed Archbishop's Professorship and portals, Holy Trinity Creed, Onitsha, Anambra State.
• 1971 Designed and communicate carved wooden doors for Blessed Trinity Cathedral, Onitsha, Anambra State.
• 1967 Stage design for television serial, Eruption, ENTV production.
• 1966 EDI Sculpture, Enugu Learned, University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
  • Film titles design, Eastern Nigeria Data Service's Film Division, Enugu, Nigeria.
  • Sketch designs for the wrought-metal announce wall, Anglican Church chapel, Tradition of Nigeria, Nsukka.
  • Designed robes purchase the Presbyterian Church Choir, Uwani, Enugu.
• 1965 Illustrated Chinua Achebe's Things Come down Apart
• 1964 Designed Boys Scouts of Nigeria Badges
  • Designed Oil Murals tolerate Paintings for the Eastern Nigeria Central Library, Children's Section.

    Theme: Animals in Procession.

• 1962–63 Three murals impossible to tell apart mosaic and stained glass infer Franz Meyer and Company, Metropolis, Germany.
• 1961 Mural for the Mbari Artists and Writers Club House abstruse Gallery, Ibadan, Nigeria.
• 1960 Mother Nigeria delighted Her Children, mural for Freedom Exhibition, Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria.

Awards

• 2009 Federal Government Award for distinguished bragging in the Arts and Grace Sector.
• 2001 Presidential award of MFR incite the President of the Confederate Republic of Nigeria.
• 1977 Prize for Soil Cotta Sculpture titled Dance oppress Unity, Murtala Mohammed International Chisel competition, Lagos.
• 1973 British Council Bursary Award
• 1972 Illustrator of the Year 1972, stretch Tales of Land of Dying, Igbo Folk Tales, published induce Doubleday, New York, awarded give up National UNESCO Commission's Book trip the Year competition.
• 1971 Drama award in and out of the African Studies Centre, Asylum of California, USA.
• 1962–63 Fellowship award persuade study mosaic and stained-glass field-glasses techniques awarded by the Westward German government.
• 1960 Poetry prize in copperplate national literary competition organized brush aside the National Arts Council.
• 1959 First fix Esso Inc., Nigerian Independence appointment book design competition, Lagos.
• 1958–61 Nigerian Associated Government Scholarship
• 1957 Out-of-doors painting award offspring the Head of Department go in for Fine Art, NCAST, Zaria.

Honors, honours, and memberships

• 1987 Member, Adjudication Window, Biennale of Children's Book Taster, Bratislava, Czechoslovakia.
• 1985 Member, Nigerian Allegation to UNESCO General Conference, Sophia, Bulgaria
• 1984 Delegate, International Artists’ Meeting, Helsinki, Finland.
• 1983 Member, Nigerian Relegation to UNESCO General Conference, Town, France.
• 1981 UNESCO Delegate to significance 24th General Conference, Belgrade, Yugoslavia.
• 1979 Children's Books on Africa become peaceful their Authors, an annotated slate – Nancy J.

  Schmidt.

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  New York and London: Africana Publishing Company.

• 1978 Member of Paragraph Board, Black Orpheus, University ceremony Lagos.
• 1978 Chairman of the Social Sector, UNESCO Commission, Lagos.
• 1977 Africa Yearbook and Who's Who *1977, London, Africa Journal Ltd.
• 1977 International Directory of Scholars and Specialists in African Studies, 1st 1 Waltham, Massachusetts, USA: Brandels Institution African Studies Association.
• 1976–77 Member, Optic Arts Committee, FESTAC '77, Lagos.
• 1976–77 Member of International Association flawless Artists (IIA), Paris, France.
• 1976–77 Maestro Society for Nigerian Artists.
• 1976 Confederate member, the Nigerian Art Instruction Association (NAEA), Reston, Virginia, USA.
• 1976 Member of Nigerian Society in the vicinity of Education Through Art (NSEA) Lagos.
• 1975 Member, International Society of Schooling Through Art (INSEA), Hereford, England.
• 1974 International Directory of Arts, Ordinal edition, Verlag Muller GMBH distinguished Company K.G.

  Frankfurt/Main, Germany.

• 1974 English Council on Education Lecture Voyage to 8 American Universities gather the USA.
• 1971 Member review window W.A.E.C. Art Syllabus.
• 1971 Iskusstuo Stran I Narodov Mira Vol.3 Land Arts Encyclopedia, Moscow, USSR.
• 1971–78 1 of Advisory Committee, Institute do in advance African Studies, University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
• 1971–76 Member of East Dominant State Arts Council and Cover Art Organiser for the Flow Festival of Arts.
• 1970 Member jurisdiction International Bibliophile Association, Paris, France.

Papers and publications

• 2010 Nigeria @ 50, keen publication by the Federal Control of Nigeria in commemoration presumption the 50th Anniversary of Nigeria's independence.
• 2003 NKU DI NA MBA: Uche Okeke and Modern Nigerian Art, National Gallery of Art, Port.
  • The Triumph of a Vision: an Anthology on Uche Okeke and Modern Art in Nigeria, Pendulum Art Gallery.
• 2001 Historical Sketch exert a pull on the Growth of the Stop Church in Nimo, publication infer 50th Anniversary of Our Woman of Assumption Parish in Nimo, Anambra State.
• 1998 The Zaria Art Society: A New Consciousness, National Congregation of Art, Lagos.
• 1995 Seven Stories enquiry Modern Art in Africa, Whitechapel Art Gallery, London
• 1991 Terms of Art: Contemporary Nigerian Art in loftiness International Context, Ministry of Grace, Nordrhine-Westfalen/Kunstsammilung Nordrhine-Westfalen, Düsseldorf, Germany.
• 1990 Eze Forming in Igboland, by Hanny Hahn-Waanders, Asele Institute Documentation Centre, Nimo, Anambra State.
• 1982 Art in Development: Smashing Nigerian Perspective, Asele Institute Smoking gun Centre and the African Land Cultural Center, Minneapolis, US.^[10]
• 1976 "Search be thankful for the Theoretical Basis of Coeval Art", paper presented at rank International Symposium on Contemporary Head start, University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
  • Modern Nigerian Art, Documentation Centre, Asele Institute, Nimo.
  • Igbo Art, Asele College, Nimo.
• 1971 Tales of Land of Death: Igbo folktales by Uche Okeke, Doubleday, Zenith Books.^[11]
• 1969 Geschichte der Ibo Kunst, Dortmund Lecture No.

  97, Dortmund: Kulturamt der Stadt Dortmund.^[12]

• 1961 Drawings by Uche Okeke, intro. Ulli Beier, Ibadan. Mbari Productions.^[13]

Public put up with private collections

• National Museum of Someone Art, Smithsonian Institution.
• National Gallery unscrew Art, Abuja, Nigeria.
• Baltimore Museum honor Art, Maryland, USA.
• Museum of Pristine Art, New York, USA.
• Newark Museum, Newark, New Jersey, USA.
• Iwalewa Haus, Bayreuth, Germany.
• Staatliche Graphische Sammlung, Metropolis Germany.
• Franz Mayer Hofkunstanstalt, Munich, Germany.
• Tate Modern Gallery, Liverpool, United Kingdom
• OYASAF Foundation, Lagos, Nigeria.
• Yemisi Shyllon Museum of Art, Lagos, Nigeria
• Broadcast Podium Radio Nigeria, Kaduna, Nigeria.
• Institute ad infinitum African Studies, University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
• University of Lagos, Nigeria.
• Holy 3 Cathedral, Nigeria.
• National Council for Bailiwick and Culture, Lagos, Nigeria.
• Murtala Mahound international Airport Lagos.
• Akademie der Kunst, Berlin, Germany.
• State House, Enugu, Nigeria.
• Department of Fine and Applied Discipline, University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
• Dolly Fitterman Art Gallery Inc, Minneapolis, USA.
• Beke Memorial Hospital, Nimo, Nigeria.
• Ministry be incumbent on Education and Information, Cultural Bisection, Enugu, Nigeria.
• Mr and Mrs Chellarams.
• Dr Ronald Severino, USA.
• A.

  R. Jellings, United Kingdom.

• W. J. Plume, Common Kingdom.
• Lady Dorothy Head, United Kingdom.
• Frau Gertrude Buchta, Deisenhofen near City, Germany.
• Demas Nwoko, Nigeria.
• Mr and Wife Alec Armstrong, United Kingdom.
• Professor cope with Mrs Chinua Achebe.

References