Wunika Mukan Gallery, Lagos, Nigeria
26 Oct 2024 - 18 Nov 2024
Wunika Mukan Gallery presents Eternal Life, a solo exhibition by renowned self-taught artist Edozie Anedu opening on October 26th. This highly anticipated exhibition showcases ten new canvases where Anedu engages deeply with the concept of eternity, blending influences from traditional stained glass windows with contemporary abstract techniques to explore humanity’s age-old quest to understand life beyond the physical.
Edozie Anedu, who draws inspiration from his Catholic heritage, reflects on the dichotomy between good and evil, pleasure and sin, youth and experience, using a technique that combines layers of oil and acrylic to create an ethereal, almost translucent, finish. This state of grace effect, as he describes it, invites viewers into a contemplative dialogue about the human condition. In Eternal Life, Anedu places his figures in an Edenic world, allowing them to shed societal constraints and exist in a vulnerable state, which brings into question notions of innocence, adventure, and morality.
Known for his bold use of color and expressive brush strokes, Anedu’s work connects popular culture, socio-political ideologies, and personal stories. His distinctive visual language, which incorporates graffiti and mural art, captures the emotional chaos and freedom that define his creative process. This exhibition, however, marks a significant shift toward introspection and spiritual reflection, adding a new dimension to Anedu’s evolving body of work.
About The Artist
Born and based in Benin City, Nigeria, Edozie Anedu is a self-taught artist whose work spans a variety of media, including oils, acrylics, pastels, and recycled materials. His earlier works, often abstract and energetic, capture whimsical figures that reflect humanity’s connection to the earth and our shared journey of self-improvement. Anedu’s work has been praised for its unique blend of innocence, trial and error, memory, and melancholy.
Eternal Life invites viewers to embark on a meditative exploration of light and shadow, framed by a symbolic look at eternity through the lens of Christian liturgical tradition.