Making Matter in Nigerian Art

Artists across time and space have infused materials not only with ritual and symbolic significance but also social, political, and economic functions. In Africa, artists from all known records have expressed themselves in different forms using varieties of media and materials.

Nigerian artists have explored different materials available within their environment, mirroring the various social conditions and civilizations at that time. In addition to improvising with industrial materials, Nigerian artists like their ancestors seek out materials local to their environment and in response to their civilization.

From ancient times in Nigerian art history, artists have engaged with materials found in their environment to express ideas and concepts. The bronze works from Ife, Benin and Igbo Ukwu give an immediate introduction to this material. Bronze an alloy of copper and zinc has been used extensively in Benin and Igbo Ukwu art traditions. 

Igbo Ukwu bronze sculptures are known as one of the earliest production of bronze art in West Africa. Ife artists on the other hand used copper in making their artworks. These metals are worked through hammering, bending, twisting, and incising.

African artists are known for using beads and excelling in weaving, knitting, felting, stitching, crocheting and bonding. These materials and techniques represent their cultures and are important means of artistic expressions. 

Contemporary artist Jimoh Buraimoh have used beads to convey his ideas. He is one of the most recognized artists to have emerged from the Oshogbo Art workshops. He is best known for his remarkable bead works which appear painterly as he carefully blends in the hues of the beads in making pictorial representations.

Upcycling in art involves transforming waste materials or unwanted products into works of art. Reducing the consumption of new raw materials can result in a reduction of energy usage, air pollution, water pollution and even greenhouse gas emissions.