women issues communication services agency(WICSA)

9898 Bissonet st
Suite 500
Houston, TX 77036
ph: 713 272 7447
alt: 317 373 6535

Meet the Artists

 A very critical reason for having more male artists than female artists is because Nigeria is mainly patriarchal. With the men’s “approval” through their active participation, the battle was half won. It is a lot easier to have men (mainly opinion leaders) attend the exhibition and be touched because they see their fellow men promoting the crusade, than if we had an all women affair which would be tagged “ Beijing Conference”( After the International women’s conference that held in Beijing in the mid 80’s to empower women. The term Beijing Conference has taken a derogatory connotation for any time women arise to challenge the status quo).

With the substantial participation of men in the exhibition, we were able to attract men of substance to the event and achieve our primary aim of creating awareness of the danger of the practice.

TO SEE THE EXHIBITION CATALOG, PLEASE CLICK HERE:

http://polaris.umuc.edu/~acavanau/july2007/presenters/Levin_NigerianArtists.pdf

 

  • Find some of the various art works on display and a bio of participating artists

  •   The Unfulfiled by HELEN IDEHEN 



     

     

    Helen, a College professor, painted “ The unfulfilled”  shows the picture of her of young girl (sister) who tried to commit suicide as a result of the procedure. The trauma almost pushed her over the edge. Luckily her sister had the loving support of her family to see her through the grieving period of personal loss. Not many girls are  that lucky. Helen holds a Masters degree from University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria. She is presently teaching Painting and Drawing at Auchi Polytechnic, Auchi

  •   Bliss Unlimited  by Onu I. Buddy

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Born in Benue State, Nigeria.  Onu holds a B.A. degree in (Painting)                                                                                                                                                                                                            Buddy’s work “Bliss Unlimited” is satirical because a young woman should experience bliss at that stage, but his work portrays the plight of a young woman after the experience. He uses a lot of red and black to describe the macabre practice. He believes in telling it “as it is". He has participated in several group Exhibitions.  He has been a guest Artist to several humane organizations such as UNICEF.

     

  •   The Silence by Nze Juliet Ezenwa

  •   Female genital Mutilation (Deep Etching)by Ufuoma I. Onobrakpeya 



      Born 1971, Ufuoma holds a B.A. (Painting). He has carved out
    a strong image for himself today especially in the medium of
    plastocraft, a medium pioneered by his father, Bruce Onabrakpeya. His interpretations stem from his childhood
    recollections of the practice in his tribe where elderly women,
    the custodians of his tribal values, perform the act. He works in
    oils as well.

  •   Misery and the spirit of conquest (Oil
    on canvas) by Ben Osaghae 

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Ben is a critic of the practice. He attacks this culture from both his painting and his articles. His painting has a gory appeal as the more you look the more you see the horrific nature of the practice. Born in 1962, Ben holds a degree in Painting and
    Illustration. He runs an Art gallery and hosts local and international exhibitions.

     

  •   A Sad Experience (Oil on Canvas)
    by Ubigho Stella 


     

    Born in 1969, Stella holds an HND (Painting) degree From Auchi Polytechnic, Auchi. Stella uses the exhibition serves as a therapeutic experience to exorcize the ghost of pain she has to live with as a result of being circumcised twice as young girl. Stella said she was circumcised twice because the first one was not done successfully and she had to do it a second time. She recalls sitting on a pail of hot water so the steam can help with  the healing process. She was happy to lend her voice to stop this heinous practice. She has participated in several group Exhibitions in Nigeria.  She works in Water Color, Pastel and Oils.

     

9898 Bissonet st
Suite 500
Houston, TX 77036
ph: 713 272 7447
alt: 317 373 6535