Agony of a Nigerian artist

By Udemma Chukwuma

Uwadinma

“Following the news in/from Nigeria with keen interest just has a way of getting one depressed, angry, heart broken, tensed and in some cases aggressive. One's senses are constantly assaulted with bewildering high-level corruption, misappropriation, leadership crises and a state of State-inspired worthlessness.

“To keep your sanity, you subconsciously remind yourself of an opium called hope; that no matter how long a night is, dawn shall come in just a matter of time,” wrote Johnon Uwadinma, on his Facebook wall, few hours ago.

Complementing his write up with an acrylic and newspaper collage on canvas paining titled, Conversation with Hope. A piece which the artist produced recently.

Johnon Uwadinma (b. 1982, Nigeria) is a contemporary artist known for his paintings and installations that feature tessellating hues and multiple textures.

Conversation with Hope

Uwadinma’s work is characterised by an interest in truth, morality, memory and the never-ending intrigue of human co-existence.  Uwadinma’s work is defined by past and present experiences of the Nigerian State and Africa’s history.

His studied art at the University of Port Harcourt, graduating with a B.A and an M.A in 2005 and 2013 respectively. He received the First Prize of the NNPC/EPNL Sponsored World Environment Day Art Competition in 2005. 

Uwadinma has exhibited extensively in several group exhibitions in Nigeria in addition to two solos, Aphorism, at Mydrim Gallery, Lagos in 2013 and Erasure, at Boys’ Quarters Project Space, Port Harcourt in 2014/2015. He lives and works in Port Harcourt, Nigeria.