He is undoubtedly Nigeria's best-documented
artist; Bruce Onobrakpeya needs very little introduction in art circles both within
and outside of the country. He is indeed a living legend; Bruce Onobrakpeya has
devoted his life to his work, and is today regarded in some quarters as the
main custodian of Urhobo folklore and culture. He never forgets his roots; he
is unapologetically attached to the history, art and culture of the Urhobo
people of South-South Nigeria. He tells their rich history and portrays
unendingly the colourful cultures of his people in his writings, paintings and
of course his major medium of expression – print-making.
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| Bruce Onobrakpeya |
Bruce Onobrakpeya is a founding member of the
Zaria rebels; they were actually a group of young artists who formed the
nucleus of the art department or the Zaria (art) School when the current Ahmadu Bello
University was known as the Nigerian College of Arts, Science and Technology
(NCAST). He is of course also a shining light among the first generation of
academically trained artists who were responsible for the renaissance in
Nigeria’s contemporary art.
He was
in the vanguard of the early league with contemporaries such as Ben Enwonwu,
Yusuf Grillo, Uche Okeke, Demas Nwoko, etc. In the course of his academic and
studio exploits, Onobrakpeya had pitched his tent with, and triumphed through
his vision from St. Gregory's College, Lagos, where he headed the fine art
department - teaching, raising and mentoring so many disciples including one of
his popular protégés – David Dale, also an accomplished print-maker.
After a memorable stint in the school which
spanned a period of about thirteen years, he retired fully into his studio –
Ovuomaroro Studios located in Mushin, a suburb of Lagos. Since then he has
continued working assiduously extending his practice and mentoring a host of adherents
through apprenticeship, extensive research, guest lecturing and writing.
Through his various workshops and symposia, Bruce Onobrakpeya has influenced
generations of young artists, and he is today respected and acknowledged as one
of the leading print-makers in the world.
Bruce Onobrakpeya, a Nigerian Urhobo
printmaker, painter and sculptor, belongs to the first generation of
contemporary artists having graduated from the Nigerian College of Arts,
Science and Technology (NCAST) presently known as Ahmadu Bello University in
Zaria. Onobrakpeya's training was based on what is popularly described as the
Western illusionistic tradition of representational art. However, many of his
artworks do not reflect his training in Western aesthetics. Instead, they
portray stylistic elements and compositions that mirror traditional African
figural sculpture and decorative arts especially drawing inferences and
inspirations from his native Urhobo cultural background.
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| Plastocast relief work by Onobrakpeya |
In 1998, Bruce Onobrakpeya pioneered and established
an artistic outfit of a unique nature which holds an annual creative feast of visual
artists of various backgrounds, training and age brackets in his hometown of
Agbarha-Otor. In this annual convergence, artists are challenged with
disciplines and tools that are not their familiar terrains with the aim of
establishing a cross fertilisation of ideas and techniques as well as the
encouragement of modern processes. The popular creative hideaway which is
popularly called the Harmattan workshop (studios) is within a location built by
the renowned print-maker and it comes with in-built chalets.
The
Harmattan Workshop studios effectively took off, and since then it has
continued to host myriad of artists both Nigerian and international professionals,
to a communion which since then has somewhat become a regular annual event. Thus
the Harmattan Workshops in addition to his numerous body of works including
worldwide collection of paintings, print-making, illustrations and
publications, will forever remain a landmark legacy for the present generation
of artists, scholars and historians, as well as those of many generations to
come.
And so the Harmattan Workshop and
Onobrakpeya’s works have continued to draw artists, researchers and curious
minds from all parts of Nigeria and abroad. Bruce Onobrakpeya is involved with
art works and projects that show concern for the environment thus also
excelling himself as an earth campaigner through the ages. Foremost among his
works that tilt towards this direction is the well known series of plastocast
relief works (a style he developed) called the Sahelian Masquerades. This
chapter of his works in print-making which was soon to go on an international
travelling exhibition more than two decades ago saw the artist and his works
touring Europe, America and Southern Africa. Thus Bruce Onobrakpeya has
travelled and exhibited extensively in Nigeria and abroad.
Among art scholars however, Onobrakpeya’s
plastocast relief works which the master himself refers to as print-making,
some arguments had arisen in trying to re-define or classify these works. And
as such wouldn’t you for instance agree that these works of plastocast reliefs
are just another form of low relief sculptures? Also, can Bruce Onobrakpeya be
rightly referred to as a painter as well? Sometimes I see the great master as a
mixed media artist; you may want to agree or disagree. Kindly leave your
opinions and questions in the comment box below.
By Morgan Nwanguma
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