After Lagos, Ogakwu’s Illimite goes to Enugu

Artist Chinedu Ogakwu’s ‘Illimite-II’ showcases works unhindered by space and time

It would be a great return to his south-east roots for artist Chinedu Ogakwu on December 6, 2019, when his solo exhibition, ‘Illimite-II’ opens at Temple Avenue, Enugu.

Born and raised in the south-east, Ogakwu launched the ‘Illimite’ concept four years ago in Lagos at a show held at TerraKulture.  Though meaning ‘unlimited’ in its original French, the artist adapted it for his artistic expressions, explaining that he uses various materials and has diverse inspirations.

Four years after the concept was born, the well-travelled artist is taking an expanded version to the south-east, where his sojourn into visual art began.”’ Illimite’ is a concept unhindered by space or time,” Ogakwu said ahead of the exhibition which will show some of his works including ‘Family Picture’, ‘Headgear’, ‘Conviviality’, ‘Matters of the Moment’, ‘My Lady’, ‘Owambe’ and ‘Status Symbol.’

Ogakwu’s paintings of mixed media celebrate social and cultural values just as the artist also highlight issues that surround some questionable behaviours of the people.In ‘Family Picture’, the artist stylises figures to depict three persons representing father, mother and a young adult. His technique in the texture of the painting adds substantial value to the bond that exists in a family.

The artist brings a similar style and technique to continue his celebration of the bond between people in ‘Conviviality,

Though an artist, Ogakwu expresses his thought on fashion on canvas in a piece titled ‘Head Gear’ where a lady’s wrapped headgear, sunglasses and blouse combined to showcase contemporary Nigerian style of dressing. The mixed media piece celebrates the importance of gele (headgear) to most Nigerian women as a new fashion item.

A group of five persons in work titled ‘Matters of the Moment’ shows figures in gossip-like postures but with their identities stylishly concealed.

Ogakwu also disclosed how revisiting Stone Age art inspired most of his themes. “My cracked and ageing canvas techniques goes back to a project I called ‘As Old As Man’. It was a self-assigned task of bringing back art from the beginning into the contemporary period”.

Recalling his beginnings, Ogakwu explained that he started from self-taught rudimentary art to formal training. He recalled his fascination with art’s strength in depicting “emotion, a thought or a feeling in ways more powerful than can be expressed by words.”

Formal training followed the self-taught period at the Institute of Management Technology (IMT), Enugu where he obtained a Higher National Diploma in Painting.

“As a self-taught, I gained an advantage in my development as an artist. It enabled me to learn unconventional ways of using various materials and develop the necessary skills for their application.”

Over the years, Ogakwu’s artistic process has continued to develop and undergo transformations. “I liked plaster and devised my technique of applying it to various surfaces producing unique texture and style.”

On his creative philosophy, Ogakwu said, “I believe that staying in your comfort zone kills and that opportunity dances with those on the dance floor. The worst of you is today, and your best is tomorrow. Your limit in life is in your mind. All these further push me to evolve my art.”

He added of his inspirations: “My intense passion and immense love of nature is the foundation of my creativity. My works consist of using wood bark, ropes, camouflage canvas, nets, wallpapers, jute fabric, etc. These materials compel me to combine diverse sources; inspirations from my background, culture and life experiences to create feelings that scratch the walls of my being in an attempt to escape into the natural world.”   His ‘Illimite-II’ will be on till December 13.