Obinna Makata ★ ★ ★ | NIGERIAN

Obinna Makata was born on 31 March 1981 in Nsukka Local Government Area in Enugu State Nigeria. He graduated in 2007 with a second class upper degree from the University of Nigeria Nsukka, majoring in sculpting. Presently, He lives and works in Lagos, Nigeria as a full-time studio artist. Obinna Makata has participated in residencies, workshops, seminars, Art talks, art fairs and auctions in Europe, America and the Middle East and over 35 group shows since 2007 and has had several solo exhibition. He has been featured in many credible art journals media locally and internationally including a 45 minutes documentary made on him by CNN which was featured for four consecutive days in the prestigious program African voices in 2016.
 

Artist Statement
I am inspired by everyday life and the ever-changing culture of my space. I work with found objects, which are mostly waste materials. My work tackles issues such as history, race, modernity, culture and social values as they relate to contemporary Africa. Using waste as a medium, I create awareness by pointing finger at the materialistic and consumerism culture that has eaten deep into our society.

My works are predominantly collage of African fabrics on paper and canvas. A style I call African Test Style (African textile). As a response to the dwindling present condition of African cultural and social value, which I see as facing the challenge of the test of time, as I work with these fabrics, I see each patch as “a broken piece of African culture” exposing the omnipresence of foreign influence that continues to threaten traditional value system and artistic process unique to the continent. My mixed media collage combines ink, acrylic and scraps of Ankara fabric to create narratives associated with common aspects of daily life.

Currently, I am exploring with animal bones in my work. I bind, join, screw, gum, tie and glue these bones together to create a narrative that explores the polarity of the result of man’s actions and inactions with his environment and nature. Like conflict and resolution, life and death, progression and retrogression, development and underdevelopment… as it concerns his everyday existence

CURRICULUM VITAE
SOLO EXHIBITION

• 2012: Meta History. African Artist Foundation Nigeria. Lagos, Nigeria.

JOINT EXHIBITIONS

• 2013: Mediation. UcheUzoka and MakataObinna. Gallary 23
• Amsterdam, Nederland.

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS

• 2019: Culture Cargo, Artlink, Frankfurt, Germany
• 2019: New York Art Expo, New York, USA.
• 2018:ArtX Art fair Lagos, Nigeria
• 2017: We buy Quality, Matadero, Madrid Spain.
• 2017: Identities. Denk space, Abuja, Nigeria
• 2017: Strength in unity. Moeshen, Beirut, Lebanon
• 2016: Breaking News. Art 21 Lagos, Nigeria.
• 2015: Platform. Art 21 Lagos, Nigeria.
• 2014: We are Love. Goethe institute Lagos.
• 2014: New Conversations. Thought Pyramid Art Centre, Abuja, Nigeria.
• 2014: Imago mudi. Nigeria/Root Contemporary Artists from Nigeria.
• 2013: The Mega-City and Non-City. Lagos Photos 2013, Ocean View Eko Hotel and Suite Nigeria.
• 2013: Blank Canvas. Art 21 Lagos, Nigeria.
• 2013:The Mater. New Contemporary, African Artists Foundation, Lagos, Nigeria.
• 2013: Joburg Art Fair. South Africa.
• 2012: Nigeria Now emerging trend of contemporary art in Nigeria. Miami, Florida.

RESIDENCIES

• 2017: El Ranchito, Matadero, Madrid, Spain
• 2013: African Artists Foundation, Lagos Nigeria.
• 2012: Thought pyramid Art Centre Abuja, Nigeria.
• ARTICLE EXTRACTED FROM THE MY SOLO EXHIBITION CATALOGUE (METAHISTORIES) BY
• JOSEPH GERGEL, CURATOR, ARTHOUSE LAGOS, NIGERIA.
• CO-FOUNDER ARTOJA

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