Nnenna Okore (Nigerian, born 1975) Ashjoke
Provenance : Provenance Acquired from Stepping Stones Nigeria, 2010; A private collection. Formerly a student of El Anatsui, Nnenna Okore's art is similarly inspired by the utilisation of discarded objects in rural areas of Nigeria. Her work often employs ordinary media like magazines and newspaper, which are disposed of in the United States, but are considered usable commodities in her native Nigeria. This duality of the material is the artist's way of re-defining everyday waste. As well as natural materials, Nnenna's works consistently challenges environmental neglect, consumerism and globalisation. Her work therefore celebrates the transformation of discarded materials into cultural objects, forms, and spaces and brings a critical focus to bear on the consumption and recycling cultures in parts of Nigeria. It is this revitalisation of materials, that makes Nnenna one of her generation's most exciting and innovative artists working within the genre of urban recyclia. These discarded materials include newspapers, wax, cloth, rope, clay and sticks and she applies various repetitive and labour-intensive techniques such as weaving, twisting, sewing, dyeing, waxing and rolling. These techniques were learned by watching villagers perform everyday, traditional tasks. The results of these creative processes contributed to accentuating the colours, textures and other visceral qualities of her sculptural works. In the present lot, the differing shades of the moulded clay contributes to a flowing and rhythmic work, supported by its burlap backing.
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