Benedict Chukwukadibia Enwonwu MBE,
Nigerian/British 1917-1994 -
 
Female Form...

Benedict Chukwukadibia Enwonwu MBE,

Nigerian/British 1917-1994 -

Female Form II;

wood, inscribed plaque attached to the original base 'Female Form II by Ben Enwonwu', H69 x W23 x D23 cm (including base)

Provenance: Gifted from the Artist; thence by descent

Note: Ben Enwonwu is considered to be one of the most influential and pioneering African artists of the 20th Century.

Born in Nigeria in 1917, Enwonwu studied fine art under Kenneth C. Murray at Government College, Nigeria, from 1934 before being awarded a scholarship in 1944 to study in the UK at the Slade School of Fine Arts. During his studies within the UK, the British colonial government employed Enwonwu to create posters for their propaganda campaigns directed towards skilled, colonised Nigerians assisting in the post-war reconstruction efforts within the UK. In many aspects he was presented as a result of the British Colonial governments efforts of tutelage in their colonies, however he was also adopted by African activists who considered him a part of Nigeria's quest for political independence. His unusual position within Western society and back home in Nigeria meant his talent was exploited for multiple parties; evidently he actively contributed to both sides, and his artwork of this period documents his interaction with both contexts. As a result his work is considered to be pioneering and consequently a unique form of African Modernist art.

This sculpture is a wonderful example of Enwonwu's style, focusing on the exploration and representation of the human body. Through his carving, Enwonwu masterfully emphasises the qualities of the wood to create smooth and sinuous abstract forms which exude a sense of motion and grace.