Press Release
Solo Show: Search for the Hero
Ubong Ettebong, a visionary artist from Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria whose work embodies the strength, resilience, and beauty of Black art. Son of a Professor of Medicine and a graduate of Painting from the University of Uyo, Ubong Ettebong’s debut solo exhibition “Search for the Hero”is a collection of paintings, each piece a powerful testament to the themes of heroism and identity, marks a significant moment not just in the career of Ubong Ettebong as a young Nigerian artist, but in the broader narrative of contemporary art. It evokes the sense that we are our heroes, and this heroism is the driving force behind our accomplishments. In his own words, Ettebong’s works serve as a reminder that everyone has the potential to be their hero and find fulfillment through this journey despite their struggles in life.
Ettebong’s paintings are a celebration of Black ‘heroes’ conceptually and dexterously crafted— legendary and everyday figures—defining his space, like the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s and 1930s. Inspired by the paintings of Damilola Opedun, one of the Nigerian artists resonating with a neo-Black Art movement in the 2020s, Ettebong’s metaphors are creatively reinventing the Black Art movement. His forms in his visual narratives are tailored to reshaping life’s virtues, inspiring and potently shaping his aestheticism and inspiration. Like the typical Black art style through bold, definitive forms and strokes and dynamic use of color with neutralized palettes and embellishments of his spaces, he brings to life the essence of courage, dignity, and the unyielding spirit of his subjects. Each canvas is a narrative, a story that invites the viewer to engage with the layers of meaning and emotion embedded within. In a time when the world is grappling with questions of identity, justice, and equality, Ubong Ettebong’s work resonates deeply. The cultural heritage and lived experiences of Black communities and the struggles encountered in this odyssey.
This exhibition is not only a showcase of his immense talent but also a call to reflect, honor, and celebrate the heroes among us. He tags his parents as his first heroes who have inspired his paintings and dexterity amongst other heroes.
Paintings in this exhibition include ‘Fiery Spirit, ‘ Portrait of Damson Idris,’ ‘ Enriched’ ‘ and ‘The Shepherd’s Reflection.’ ‘ Fiery Spirit’ a painting of vigor portends deep connections between the artist and his experiences of being a young, black, talented African artist and his struggles on a global stage. It also delves into emotional rhythms of sadness coupled with loneliness and solitude that characterize our feelings, and our responses vented with anger and defiance. Also is the painting, ‘Portrait of Damson Idris,’ a British actor of Nigerian descent who has starred in several Hollywood movies like ‘Snowfall,’ playing roles that depict the harrowing realities of growing up as a young black boy in an environment of struggles and economic downturn. His metaphors evoke feelings of hope against despair, strength against weakness, identity against futility, and aspirations against limitations.
These aesthetic feelings are voiced and visualized in the artistic spaces of Ubong Ettebong at the Ogirikan Art Gallery, Lagos, spanning August 17-September 2024, and you are welcome to explore this remarkable collection and immerse yourself in the rich, vibrant world that Ettebong has created. May these paintings inspire, motivate, and illuminate your path to understanding and appreciating creativity and unity.
Bassey Effiong Ndon
Department of Fine and Industrial Arts,
University of Uyo