OM234 presents Oliver Enwonwu: A Continued Legacy, a joint exhibition of paintings, by Oliver Enwonwu and his father, Prof. Ben Enwonwu, MBE, NNOM (1917 – 1994) at Mall Galleries.
To coincide with the 30th anniversary of Ben Enwonwu’s passing, the exhibition was conceived as a conversation between both artists exploring their shared depiction of femininity as a symbol of indigenous aesthetics and primordial feminine power. The exhibition venue pays homage to Ben Enwonwu’s 1985 exhibition ‘Dance Theme’ also staged at Mall Galleries.
For ‘A Continued Legacy’, Oliver Enwonwu created new paintings that deviate from his father’s aesthetic to unpack ideas of nationhood, the female body, gesture, and symbolism. With a focus on the movement, hair, and clothing of his sitter Enwonwu depicts a “strategy of resistance” emphasizing the self-assertiveness of his subjects. Enwonwu also engages with the works of other modern masters who failed to fully acknowledge their sources of inspiration in the geometric shapes of African masks and sculptures.
