Uzoji Godwin, Winner 2016 National Arts Competition.

Uzoji Godwin won the 2016 National Arts Competition 'Shifting Boundaries' with his sculptural twork.

The theme "Shifting Boundaries”, a topic that challenges artists to especially question and manifest through their work what a boundary means to them with an emphasis on the shifts, changes, and transformations that influence the boundaries of our modern world. Homelessness, Despair and Hope sees the boundaries as the edges of peoples’ comfort zone and that any involuntary shift in these boundaries, most often result in unpleasant conditions.

Using the Tent made of coconut shells as a motif to signify movement, transiency and an ephemeral state, the work portrays the realization that the tent cannot shelter against the harsh conditions of the elements representative of the everyday challenges that the IDPs face in their camps. The work however rekindles hopes as depicted by silver and gold foil forming a linear pattern around the tent to show that hope can be sustained by the collective effort that can be channeled towards alleviating their plight. The introduced jute bags represents the little effort directed at the IDPs.