Nigerian Modernism exhibition book (paperback)

Set against the backdrop of cultural and artistic rebellion, this paperback Nigerian Modernism exhibition book is a fascinating exploration of the artists who revolutionised modern art in Nigeria.

The end of the Second World War witnessed the rise of Pan-African solidarity movements and the increased migration of African artists to European cosmopolitan centres. During Nigeria’s struggle for national independence in particular, artists drew upon diverse cultural traditions to navigate the country’s evolving social and political landscape, resulting in a rich and diverse body of work.

With a cover featuring a detail from Ben Enwonwu’s Black Culture, 1986, this richly illustrated exhibition catalogue explores the multi-directional development of modern art in Nigeria from the period of British indirect rule to the years of national independence and post-independence, considering Nigerian art in relation to themes and ideas of Christian and Islamic art, traditional African sculpture, indigenous knowledge systems and Nigerian poetry and literature.

Through their inventive and dynamic approach to art making, Nigerian artists challenged common assumptions and colonial narratives of African art within a global history of modernism. The book presents an historical overview of artistic perspectives with over 300 works by more than 50 artists spanning the period from 1945 to 1995. They include Akinola Lasekan, Ben Enwonwu, Ladi Kwali, Clara Ugbodaga-Ngu, Bruce Onobrakpeya, Uche Okeke, and Obiora Udechukwu.

Highlighting the ways in which artists, writers and intellectuals negotiated the legacies of traditional Nigerian culture, European colonialism, and international networks of artistic modernity, Nigerian Modernism presents an important chapter of African art-historical life and reveals the enduring legacies of diverse traditions and artistic languages.

With contributions by Bilal Akkouche, Bea Gassman de Sousa, délé jégédé, Francine Kola-Bankole, Sylvester Okwunodu Obgechie, Ozioma Onuzulike, Will Rea, and Molara Wood, the book is edited by Osei Bonsu. As Curator of International Art at Tate Modern, Bonsu is responsible for organising exhibitions, developing the museum’s collection and broadening the representation of artists from Africa and the African diaspora. In 2020, he was named as one of Apollo Magazine’s ‘40 under 40’ leading African voices.

• Exhibition Nigerian Modernism
• Dimensions 27.5 x 23 cm
• Material FSC certified paper
• ISBN 9781849769822
• Paperback Yes