Portrait of Funmilayo (2020)
ARTIST
Chukwudubem Ukaigwe (he/they)
Chukwudubem Ukaigwe is a Nigerian born song, dispersed by a transient Atlantic breeze, currently passing through Treaty 1 Territory, so-called Canada. He consciously uses a variety of mediums to relay a plurality of ideas at any given time. He views his art as a conversation, or a portal into one, and in some instances, as an interpretation of this ongoing exchange. Chukwudubem weighs an occurrence, feeling, or idea on a scale and then creates a narrative in his own language. Chukwudubem operates as an interdisciplinary artist, curator, writer, and cultural worker. Chukwudubem Ukaigwe is the founder of Patterns Collective.
LOCATION
The Garrick
330 Garry St.
Winnipeg, MB
(North-facing wall)
ABOUT / ARTIST STATEMENT
A powerful portrait of Funmilayo, a woman of Nigerian descent, gracing the public consciousness would be Winnipeg’s dream come true. The cyclic background of this painting draws immense angular perspectival attention to her bust. In Yoruba culture, the Head (Ori) signifies, presence, essence and destiny. Funmilayo in the public, will get the same attention and reverence gotten by the withering European men that grace the Dollar bill. Chukwudubem Ukaigwe’s approach in rendering this painting negates Eurocentric ideas, It centres on a gallant representation of Funmilayo, as opposed to the perverse, western focus on the African torso.