Mainstream News

Nigerian artist creates rotting exhibit as coronavirus warning

Nigerian artist creates rotting exhibit as coronavirus
warning 1

LAGOS – Nigerian artist Olufela Omokeko carefully arranges fresh peppers on wooden boards hanging in a bare room. Instead of providing spice in a meal, he wants them to encourage people to obey measures that will stop the spread of the coronavirus.

His pieces, comprising of red, yellow and green peppers mounted on boards and tomatoes hanging from nets, will rot during the lifespan of the exhibition in Lagos. The decay reflects the food wasted during lockdowns last year, said the 30-year-old artist.

“I created this art space as a reflection of the scarcity… and numerous challenges that we experienced at the early stage of the pandemic,” Omokeko said.

Lockdowns were imposed from late March until early May last year in Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial hub and the capital, Abuja. The restrictions, coupled with a ban on nationwide interstate travel, disrupted supply chains which led to widespread hunger, while food rotted in fields or at depots.

Nigerian artist Olufela Omokeko sets up an exhibition of fresh pepper motive at a gallery in Iwaya, Lagos

Nigerian artist Olufela Omokeko sets up an exhibition of fresh pepper motive at a gallery in Iwaya, Lagos, Nigeria January 30, 2021.

Reuters

General view of an exhibition of fresh pepper motive set up by Nigerian artist Olufela Omokeko at a gallery in Iwaya

General view of an exhibition of fresh pepper motive set up by Nigerian artist Olufela Omokeko at a gallery in Iwaya

General view of an exhibition of fresh pepper motive at a gallery in Iwaya, Lagos, Nigeria.

Reuters

Nigerian artist Olufela Omokeko sets up an exhibition of fresh pepper motive at a gallery in Iwaya, Lagos

Nigerian artist Olufela Omokeko sets up an exhibition of fresh pepper motive at a gallery in Iwaya, Lagos

Nigerian artist Olufela Omokeko sets up an exhibition of fresh pepper motive at a gallery in Iwaya, Lagos

Nigerian artist Olufela Omokeko sets up an exhibition of fresh pepper motive at a gallery in Iwaya, Lagos

Up Next

Nigerian artist creates rotting exhibit as coronavirus
warning 2

The Penn State offense is rolling. The Nittany Lions have…

Price & Product Availability Tracker

Discover where products are available & compare prices

4

View Slideshow

“I don’t want us to go back to that stage again and my only advice is for the masses to use their face masks just to avoid another lockdown,” he said.

He fears authorities may enforce more restrictions as the country grapples with a second wave of COVID-19 infections that has seen the number of cases rise sharply in recent weeks.

Public health officials have repeatedly warned that Nigerians are failing to heed guidance on observing social distancing and wearing masks. Many opt to wear masks around their chin, rather than over their mouth and nose.

Omokeko hopes the sight of his rotting peppers, oozing liquids and giving off a pungent smell, will provide a visceral warning of what may happen if safety advice is ignored.

“I’m not wasting this material,” he said. “I’m using it to raise the consciousness of the masses.”

Read the Full Article

Mainstream News

Prepare Now Before its too Late

Discover where products are available & compare prices

Indian Farmers’ Protests: Twitter Withholds Prominent Accounts by Government Order, Then Restores
Former Ohio police officer who shot Andre Hill pleads not guilty, bond set at $3M

You might also like
Menu