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"Bag of Wisdom: Igbo Knowledge and the Art of Obiora Udechukwu," an exhibition of work by Udechukwu, Dana Professor of Fine Arts, is in SUNY Potsdam's Hosmer Gallery through May 23.

The exhibition features recent work and a new wall painting based upon contemporary and traditional Nigerian art.

One of the most influential contemporary artists from Nigeria for several decades, Udechukwu has been a leading member of the Nsukka School, known for experimentation with traditional Igbo Uli mural and body design since the 1970's. Born in Onitsha, Nigeria, Udechukwu trained at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and the University of Nigeria in Nsukka, where he was a professor of drawing and painting for more than two decades. His work has been shown in many venues around the world, including the National Gallery of Art, Lagos; Barbican Art Galleries, London; Whitechapel Art Gallery, London; National Museum of African Art, Washington, DC; National Gallery of Zimbabwe; Triennale-India; British International Print Biennale; Johannesburg Biennale; and Havana Biennale.

His work is in the collections of the National Gallery of Modern Art, Lagos; National Council for Art and Culture, Lagos; Bradford City Museums and Galleries, Bradford, England; Iwalewa-Haus, Universität Bayreuth; Museum für Völkerkunde, Frankfurt/Main, Germany; and the National Museum of African Art, Washington, DC. A founding member of the Aka Circle of Exhibiting Artists and the dunke Community of Artists, Udechukwu has co-written four plays; co-edited (with Chinua Achebe) a collection of Igbo poetry, "Aka Weta, Aka Weta: Egwu Aguluagu, Egwu Edeluede" (1982); and won the ANA/Cadbury Poetry Prize for his book What the Madman Said (1990).

The exhibition is organized by the SUNY Potsdam Charles Weaver Museum of Anthropology.

More information: Arts at St. Lawrence

Posted: April 26, 2007