Collision
, 2022
213 x 161 cm (h x w)
Oil paint on sanyan fabric
Nengi Omuku’s works are created by applying oil paint onto strips of Sanyan, a traditional Nigerian fabric. Historically, Sanyan was woven from threads of silk made by wild moths. It was used in clothing worn by members of wealthy Nigerian families in the pre-colonial era. Omuku’s paintings explore the effect of contemporary social and political events on individuals and groups of people. The two figures in Collision, faceless and intertwined, are set against a dramatic fiery backdrop which conveys their inner turmoil.