Ben Enwonwu is recognised as one of the pioneers of African modernism and contemporary art. His artworks, mostly featuring titular dancing figures and masked spirits such as ‘Ogolo’ and ‘Anyanwu’, have attracted widespread recognition from local and international art spaces and cultural organizations. This trajectory opened up the way for other artists who produce sculpture using various media.
Likewise, Ebong Sunday Ekwere, a master sculptor with four decades of professional experience, has carved out an indelible spot in Nigeria’s contemporary art scene with his sculpture pieces made from wood, clay, metal and fibreglass. His latest exhibition is a testament to this fact.
Ebong Ekwere’s debut solo art show, ‘Moments and Moods’, was curated by Olorogun Jeff Ajueshi and hosted at the Thought Pyramid Art Centre, Lagos, Nigeria. The opening was held on the 1st of November, and the showing will receive visitors until the 14th of November, 2025.
The art on display, arranged in no particular order, is reminiscent of the various expressions triggered by human emotions and the collectiveness of family. They accurately represent the African body type and are easily distinguishable into male and female figures. There is an aura of complementarity with contrasting gendered behaviour and character.
A total of 25 artworks are on show: 10 wood carvings, 3 charcoal drawings, 2 pastel works and 6 base structures. Each one serves as a standalone exhibit, but together, they possess a semblance of community. Named after their unique characteristics — ’Elegance’, ‘Confidence’, ‘Shy’ — Ekwere’s expertise shines through them with deft brush strokes, immersive emotional representation and swift chisel marks.
African sculptural tradition is rife with references to deities and ritual proceedings. However, this artist not only regards the continent’s traditional religious practices but also lends credence to the ambience of everyday life and the essence of communal living. He pays reverence to the beauty of aging and ultimately documents the significance of human existence.
Ekwere accords his pieces with their gender-specific qualities, in their sculpting and final form. The female figures, ‘Maiden Dancer’ and ‘Female Form’, bear a finished smoothness that evokes an aura of sensuality and fertility. A balanced contrast is visible in the male pieces with an almost jagged form, which understandably evokes dominance and fear, with facial characteristics showing hardened and isolated temperaments. He also leaves a piece untitled, seemingly giving gallery visitors and viewers a chance for subjective interpretation.
‘Mboho (family)’, ‘Ada (barren)’, ‘Akang (the face of poverty)’, and ‘Nkpo Uto (elegance)’ introduce the maestro’s personal background, as they reflect his Akwa Ibom roots.
‘Moments and Moods’ marks Ebong Ekwere’s return to the Lagos art scene, which holds a predominant sector in the African art and culture market. His meditative retreat for work and the subsequent production of stellar masterpieces pose as a reminder of the necessity of isolation for creative processes.
Art enthusiast and collector, Dolores Odogwu-Edgel, has notably named Ekwere as ”the best sculptor to come out of Nigeria in our time,” also drawing similarities to Ben Enwonwu and Henry Moore in his pieces.
Ekwere’s pieces have formed a part of the greater whole for group exhibitions and commissioned projects. This independent exhibition draws viewers into a whole new world, providing viewers with a nuanced perspective of his dexterity with various art media.
