Gcon meaning
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Erhabor Ogieva Emokpae (1934-1984) and the timber carving at Unilever
Erhabor Ogieva Emokpae (1934-1984) and the timber carving at Unilever
The largest item in the Unilever archive at Port Sunlight is a carved timber mural by the Nigerian artist Emokpae. Stretching to over 4m x4.5m and made up of 35 individual panels, it depicts the story of palm oil harvesting and the production of palm oil.
The panels also show William Lever visiting Africa and his famous Sunlight soap brand. It’s a vast piece of history and story telling revealing that behind ever bar of Sunlight soap was a vast system of extraction, production, logistics, and international trade stemming from Western Africa. The work was commissioned for the refurbishment of Unilever House in London in 1979. As well as being an influential and important artist Emokpae was a Creative Design Director for the design agency Lintas (also one of Unilever’s subsidiary companies).
I produced a measured drawing of the carving to help me to study it more carefully and because it’s almost impossible to photograph the or
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Born in Benin City in 1934, Emokpae is regarded as one of the pioneers of modern arts in Nigeria. His institutional Studies was at the Yaba trade Centre (now Yaba College of Technology). He later went to England in 1963 to study art. He is regarded as a sculptor, muralist, graphic artist and painter. Famous among his works is a replica of the Benin ivory Mask (the official emblem of Festac 77) which he produced for the festival. His depiction of Queen Amina is also a notable painting which is famous as well.
In this untilted piece, he depicts a highly stylized face with two similar faces on each side. The smooth finish of the sculpture alludes to the expert skill of the artist. The lips have been reduced to a thin line while the eyes have been reduced to slits in the center of an oval shape. The smaller faces on the sides seem to be a representation of children. One would guess the sculpture is a depiction of a mother (who is content) carrying her two children.
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Erhabor Emokpae
Nigerian artist (1934–1984)
ErhaborOgievaEmokpae, OON, (9 May 1934 – 16 February 1984) was a Nigerian sculptor, muralist, graphic artist and painter who is regarded as one of the pioneers of modern arts in Nigeria.[1] Some of his notable works include the a bronze replica of the ivory mask of Queen Idia that was used as the official emblem of the Second World Black and African Festival of Arts and Culture (FESTAC 77)[2] and a popular painting of Queen Amina. He is also responsible for the decorations on the four entrances of the National Arts Theatre, in Lagos.[3]
Early life and education
Erhabor Emokpae, a native of Oredo local government area in Edo State, was born on 9 May 1934, his father was a Bini Palace chief Ewekagosadoba and his mother was a Muslim from Benin City. After completing his basic education at the local Government School, Benin, in 1949, Emokpae entered Western Boys High School, Benin, that same year, leaving in 1951. He proceeded to study art at the Government Trade Centre (now Yaba College of T
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