ENWONWU, Ben

Graphic Artist, Painter, Sculptor Birth: July 14, 1921, in Onitsha, Anambra State. Training: Learned carving from his father, a sculptor; studied under Kenneth C. Murray at government colleges, Ibadan and Umuahia, 1934-1937; attended Goldsmith College, London, 1944; Ruskin College, Oxford, 1944-1946; Slade School of Fine Arts, London, 1946- 1948, graduating with first class honors; postgraduate courses in anthropology and ethnography, University of California, USA and Louisiana State College, Baton Rouge, USA. Profile: Full name, Benedict Chuka Enwonwu; from 1939, art teacher in various schools, including Government College, Umuahia, and at mission schools in Calabar Province, 1940-1941; at Edo College, Benin City, 1941-1943; art adviser to the Nigerian government, from 1948; during the next several years, toured and lectured in the United States, 1950 and executed many commissions as a freelance artist; editor, Nigeria Magazine, 1966; fellow, Lagos University, Lagos, 1966- 1968; cultural advisor to the Nigerian government, 1968-1971; visiting artist, Institute of African Studies, Howard University, Washington, DC; appointed first professor of fine arts, University of Ife, Ile-Ife, 1971-1975; art consultant to the International Secretariat, Second World Black and African Festival of Arts and Culture (FESTAC), Lagos, 1977; executed portraits of Nigerians as private commissions; illustrated Amos Tutuola's The Brave African Huntress; maintains a studio in London; Fellow, Royal Anthropological Institute, London. Member: Royal Academy of Art, London. Solo Exhibitions Exhibition Centre, Marina, Lagos, 1942. Berkeley Galleries, London, 1947, 1948, 1950, 1952, 1955. Howard University Art Gallery, Washington, DC, 1950. Galerie Apollinaire, London, 1950. "An Aspect of Ben Enwonwu's Art on Exhibition," USIS, Lagos, April 1973. Goethe Institute, Lagos, April 12-15, 1976. "Ben Enwonwu's Enwonwus: Sculptures and Paintings," Royal Society of British Artists, The Mall Galleries, London, October 5-11, 1985. Salon Exhibition, Lagos, October 1987. Group Exhibitions Zwemmer Gallery, London, July 6-August 7, 1937. Empire Exhibition, Glasgow, Scotland, 1938. International Exhibition of Modem Art, Musee d'Art Moderne, Paris, France, 1946. Independence Exhibition, Lagos, September 20-October 2, 1960. "Kunst aus Zentralafrika," Berlin, Bremen, Dortmund, and Darmstadt, Germany, 1960-1961. "Art From Africa of Our Time," Phelps-Stokes Fund, New York, USA, December 28, 1961-January 19, 1962. Exhibition Centre, Marina, Lagos, 1962. Inaugural Exhibition of the Society of Nigerian Artists, Exhibition Centre, Lagos, January 16-22, 1964. International Art Exhibition, Lusaka, Zambia, October 19-November 30, 1964. "Treasures from the Commonwealth," Royal Academy of Art, London, September 17-November 13, 1965. "Contemporary African Art," Camden Arts Centre, London, August-September 1969. 'Tenth Anniversary Exhibition of Contemporary African Art," Africa Centre, London, 1973. "Contemporary Nigerian Sculpture on the Occasion of the Tenth Anniversary of the University of Ife," University of Ife, Ile-Ife, September-October 1973. "Nigerian Art in the 70's," University of Ife, Ile-Ife, March 16-April 20, 1976. "National Art Exhibition," National Theatre, Lagos, October 2-9, 1976. FESTAC '77, Lagos, 1977. "Exhibition of Works by Contemporary Nigerian Artists," National Theatre, Lagos, September 4-9, 1977. "Exhibition of Nigerian Traditional and Contemporary Art," Lagos, 1978. "National Art Exhibition," National Theatre, Lagos, September 30-October 7, 1978. "Christian Arts in Nigeria," Holy Trinity Cathedral, Onitsha, June 1979. "Moderne Kunst in Afrika," Tropenmuseum, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 1980. "National Art Exhibition," National Theatre, Lagos, September 25-October 1, 1980. "Exhibition of Nigerian Contemporary Art," Dakar, Senegal, November 25- December 7, 1980. "Ausstellung Nigerianische Kunst der Gegenwart," Bonn, Germany, August 9-18, 1982. "Exhibition of Nigerian Contemporary Art," Islamabad, Pakistan, 1983. "Evolution in Nigerian Art," Lagos, 19841 "Art for VIPs," British Caledonian VIP Lounge, Gatwick Airport, London, October 1-31, 1985. "Silver Jubilee National Art Exhibition," National Theatre, Lagos; Federal University of Technology, Owerri; Lugard Hall, Kaduna, September 26-October 1, 1985. "Man in Focus," National Theatre, Lagos, December 20, 1985-January 10, 1986. "First Masters Art Exhibition," Continental Merchant Bank, Lagos, November 17- 27, 1987. Salon Exhibition, Lagos, December 1988. "A Tale of Two Continents," Quintessence, Lagos, April 18-28, 1990. Commissions Bronze statue, "Queen Elizabeth II," Fountain Square, Lagos, 1959. Cast figures, "Four Winged Evangelists," All Saints Anglican Cathedral, Onitsha, 1959. Throne on which Queen Elizabeth sat to proclaim Nigeria's Independence, Lagos, 1960. Stone statue, "Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe," 1960. Sculpture, wood, iroko, "The Risen Christ," Chapel of the Resurrection, University College, Ibadan, 1961. Wood sculptures, Daily Mirror Building, London, 1961. Bronze statue, "Anyanwu, The Awakening," United Nations, New York, USA, 1961. Sculpture, "Boy Reading Book," Idi Araba dormitory, University of Lagos, Lagos. Portrait, Dr. Benneh Balme, first Vice-Chancellor, University of Ghana, Legon. Portrait, Dr. Kenneth Mellanby, first Vice-Chancellor, University of Ibadan, Ibadan. Sculptures, door panels and chair, House of Representatives, Lagos. Sculpture, National Gallery of Zimbabwe, Harare. Sculpture, "Sango," National Electric Power Authority, Lagos. Statue, "Drummer," Nigerian External Telecommunications Building, Lagos. Bronze portrait, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Onitsha. Door, Chapel of the Apostolic Delegate, Victoria Island, Lagos. Ceramic mural, Nigerian Ports Authority, Marina, Lagos. Sculpture, "Three Musicians," Broadcasting House, Lagos. Writings by the Artist "Modem Nigerian Artists' Work," Illustrated London News (London) 213: 12, 1948. illus. "Problems of the African Artist Today," Presence Africaine (Paris) no. 8-10: 174-178, June-November 1956. "New Movement in Nigerian Art," [letter to the editor]. West Africa (London) July 21, 1956, page 516. [In reply to Cyprian Ekwensi's "New Movement in Nigerian Art," West Africa (London) June 23, 1956, page 422]. "Nigeria Should Not Neglect Cultural Liberation," Sunday Times (Lagos) May 1, 1960. "African Art in Danger," The Times (London) September 29, 1960. "Into the Abstract Jungle: A Criticism of the New Trend in Nigerian Art," Drum (Lagos) June 1963, pages 25-29. illus. (some color). "Africanists Must Take Blame, Too," Drum (Lagos) July 1963, pages 27-28. illus. (color). "The African View of Art and Some Problems Facing the African Artist," pp. 417- 426. In: Function and Significance of African Negro Art in the Life of the People and for the People, March 30-April 8, 1966, ItheJ Colloquium on Negro Art, Dakar, 1966, Paris, Presence Africaine, 1968. Bozimo, Willy. "Artists are Bom, Not Made," Daily Times (Lagos) April 3, 1975. [interview with Ben Enwonwu]. "African View of Art," pp. 52-55. In: FESTAC '77, London, Africa Journal, 1977. illus. (color). Ben Enwonwu Speaks with Ophelia Magazine," Ophelia Magazine (London) 1 (2): 45, 55, 1982. Awards & Honors IBM bronze medal and prize, IBM art collection, San Francisco, USA, 1939; Shell Company of West Africa scholarship, 1944; Medal of the British Empire, 1954; R. B. Bennett Empire Art Prize, Royal Society of British Artists, London, 1957; Commonwealth Certificate, Royal Institute of Art, Commerce and Agriculture, London; DLitt (Honorary), Ahamdu Bello University, 1969; National Order of Merit, 1980; Fellow, Asele Institute, Nimo, 1985. Public Collections Carl Van Vechten Gallery of Fine Arts, Fisk University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA. Paintings: "Forest II," "Prince," and "Fulani Girls"; wood sculpture: "Head." Continental Merchant Bank, Lagos. Print of oil on canvas: "Tutu," 1974. Federal Ministry of Information, Cultural Division, Lagos. Oil on canvas: "Black is Beautiful." Hampton University Museum, Hampton, Virginia, USA. Works formerly in the Harmon Foundation Collection. IBM Collection, San Francisco, USA. Lagos University Library, University of Lagos, Lagos. Oil painting on board: "Beauty and the Beast." Works formerly in the collection of the Federal Society of Arts and Humanities, Lagos. National Gallery of Modem Art, Lagos. Oil paintings: "Olokun," "Negritude," "Dance Forms," "Africa Dances," "Mother Africa," "Tutu," and "Agbogommuo"; gouache painting: "Ghana Dance Ensemble"; processed painting (copy): "Hon. Chief Justice Atanda Fatayi-Williams"; wood sculpture: "Female Figure"; plastercast: "Chief Mbanefo." National Museum, Lagos. Oil paintings on canvas: "Ile-Ife," "Rhythm of the Market Women," "Anyanwu," and "Portrait." Tate Gallery, London, England. Bronze bust: Queen Elizabeth II, 1958. University of Lagos Library, University of Lagos, Lagos. Painting: "Beauties and Beasts." Bibliography Nigeria (Lagos) no. 15: 243, September 1938. [illus. only]. Fleming, Daniel Johnson. "Christian Art in Africa," pp. 67-77. In the author's Each With His Own Brush: Contemporary Christian Art in Asia and Africa, New York, Friendship Press, 1938. illus. "Africa's Greatest Artist," Ebony (Chicago) 4: 27-29, March 1949. illus. "Masterpiece in Bronze, Ben Enwonwu," Drum Qohannesburg): 65-67, January 1955. illus. "Portrait of an Artist," West African Review (London) no. 28 (352): 2-7, 1957. illus. Smith, Dugal. "Lonely Boyis Becoming a Fine Sculptor," Drum (Johannesburg): 35- 37, April 1958. illus. Anyiam, Frederick Uzoma. Among Nigerian Celebrities. Lagos: [Printed by Sankey Printing Works], 1960. "The Chapel of the Resurrection, University College, Ibadan, Nigeria," West African Builder and Architect (Ibadan) 2 (3): 50-54, May-June 1962. illus. "Ben Enwonwu, Peintre et Sculpteur Nigerian," Jeune Afr'iaue (Paris) no. 16: 36-38, September 1962. illus. Lancaster, Michael. "Exhibition Centre, Marina, Lagos," Nigeria Magazine (Lagos) no. 74: 91-92, September 1962. illus. D., E. "Ben Enwonwu, Artiste et Homme Heureux," La Vie Africaine (Paris) 35: 41, avril 1963. Enwonwu, Ben. "Into the Abstract Jungle: A Criticism of the New Trend in Nigerian Art," Drum (Lagos) June 1963, pages 25-29. illus. (some color). Art-For Africa's Sake," Drum Qohannesburg) 0419-7674: 26-27, July 1963. illus. Enwonwu, Ben. "Africanists Must Take Blame, Too," Drum (Lagos) July 1963, pp. 27-29. illus. (color). "University of Lagos Temporary Accommodation at Idi Araba, Lagos," West African Builder and Architect (Lagos) 4 (1): 2-5, 16, January-February 1964. International Art Exhibition, Lusaka, 19th October to 30th November. [Lusaka, Zambia: s.n. (printed by A. W. Bardwell & Co., Salisbury, Rhodesia)], 1964. [36]pp. illus. Treasures from the Commonwealth: Catalogue [ofan exhibition] at the Royal Academy of Art, 17 September to 13 November 1965I Commonwealth Arts Festival. London: Commonwealth Arts Festival Society, 1965. [55]pp., [33] leaves, illus. (some color). [None by Enwonwu]. Ekwensi, Cyprian. "High Price of Nigerian Art," Nigeria Magazine (Lagos) no. 88: 36-51, March 1966. illus. "Our Authors and Performing Artists-I," Nigeria Magazine (Lagos) no. 88: 57-61, March 1966. port. "All Saints Anglican Cathedral Onitsha," West African Builder and Architect (Lagos) 6 (6): 120-124, November-December 1966. illus. Carroll, Kevin. "Modem Artists," pp. 124-131. In the author's Yoruba Religious Carving: Pagan and Chistian Sculpture in Nigeria and Dahomey, New York, Praeger, 1967, cl966. illus. Vaughn-Richards, Alan. "The Nigerian Institute of International Affairs: New Building in Lagos," Nigeria Magazine (Lagos) no. 96: 17-23, March-May 1968. illus. Nigeria's Art Treasures. Lagos: Federal Ministry of Information, [197-?]. illus. "The All-Nigeria Festival of the Arts-1970," Nigeria Magazine (Lagos) nos. 107/109: 15-43, December 1970-August 1971. illus. An Aspect of Ben Enwonwu's Art on Exhibition; [held at USIS, Lagos, April 1973]. Lagos: USIS, 1973. Malan, Nancy E. "Photographs in the Harmon Foundation Collection," African Arts (Los Angeles) 6 (2): 32-33, winter 1973. illus. (color). Bozimo, Willy. "Arfists are Bom, Not Made," Daily Times (Lagos) April 3, 1975. [interview with Ben Enwonwu]. Fosu, Kojo. "New Trends in African Art: The Liberafion of Symbolic Images," New Directions (Washington, DC) 3 (4): 31-35, October 1976. illus. Fosu, Kojo. "The Exhibition of African Contemporay Art," [held at Howard University Gallery of Art, Washington, DC]. Black Art (Jamaica, NY) 1 (3): 49-54, spring 1977. illus. (color). [None by Enwonwu]. Hulten, C. O. "Modem Konst i Afrika: En Oversikt," pp. 10-60. In: Modern Konst i Afrika: Modern Art in Africa, Lund, Sweden, Kalejdoskop, 1978. illus. (some color). Lawal, Babatunde. "Samtida Konst i Nigeria," pp. 69-73. In: Modern Konst i Afrika: Modern Art in Africa, Lund, Sweden, Kalejdoskop, 1978. illus. Oloidi, Ola. "Abstraction in Modem African Art," New Culture (Ibadan) 1 (9): 9-13, August 1979. "Ben Enwonwu Speaks with Ophelia Magazine," Ophelia Magazine (London) 1 (2): 45, 55, 1982. Ojo, Albert O. "The Contributions of Contemporary Artists in Nigerian Cultures," pp. 87-108. In the author's The Role of Art in Promoting Cultural Heritage and Art Education in Nigeria: A Pedagogical Assemblage. PhD dissertation, Columbia University, 1984, Ann Arbor, University Microfilms International, 1985. illus., bibliog. "Enwonwu's Dry Run," West Africa (London) no. 3555: 2146& cover illus., October 14, 1985. illus. (color). "Art for VIPs," [review of an exhibition of the DidiMuseum collection, Lagos, held at the British Caledonian VIP Lounge, Gatwick Airport, London, October 1-31, 1985]. West Africa (London) no. 3556: 2237, October 21, 1985. Ogbechie, Sylvester. Ben Enwonwu in the Art Historical Account ofModern Nigerian Art. BAthesis, Department of Fine & Applied Arts, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, 1988. [viii], 87, [31] leaves, illus., bibliog. [unpublished]. Oloidi, Ola. "Enwonwu: When an Artist is Wanted and Wanted," The Guardian (Lagos) September 10, 1988, page 7. Nzeogu, Uzo. "Meeting of Two Continents," [exhibition held at Quintessence, Lagos, April 18-28, 1990]. Newswatch (Lagos) 11 (19): 56, May 7, 1990. illus. [None by Enwonwu],