153
NIGERIA
Onyemaobinna Offoedu-Okeke
Dwelling Together 1999
oil pastel on paper 59.5 x 89.5 cm

Onyemaobinna Offoedu-Okeke was born in 1967, studied architecture at the University of Nigeria, Enugu, and works as an architectural designer and product and communication consultant in Enugu. He comments: ‘The chronicle of the 20th century is replete with accounts of wars which have ravaged human and earthly resources. As a prophetic wish, my picture expresses the coagulation of hearts, heads, and hopes from different kingdoms and kindreds in a place and time where the essence will be of peace and neighbourliness; like people in a peace conference. I sought to weave a tapestry. It is colourful, yet in a bleached way, thus evoking the multi-ethnicity and pain of the Nigerian populace respectively. Coming from the eastern part of Nigeria, I have been influenced by the tradition of the uli style’.