Smithsonian World: Nigerian Art-Kindred Spirits

El Anatsui, Nigerian artist, takes a chainsaw and fire to pieces of wood, and then arranges the transformed pieces into striking patterns. For the artist, the chainsaw and the fire symbolize colonialism. Modern art has come to Nigeria. Actress Ruby Dee narrates this survey of the contemporary art scene in Nigeria which is comprised of a number of disparate threads yet shares a common heritage. Viewers see the making of gorgeous clothes by textile artist Nike; Ben Enwonwu's provocative sculptures which draw on the prevalence of masquerades in Nigeria and belief in the supernatural (he learned to draw by using a broomstick on sand); the motorized artwork of Sokari Douglas Kamp, who evokes traditional themes and motifs through scrap metal sculpture; and the paintings of Ono Brakpeya, which draw on Nigerian influence but address environmental concerns. In addition to the artists themselves, the program interviews local art historians who place specific contributions within the context of Nigerian art as a whole. Visually intriguing, and featuring an excellent musical soundtrack, Nigerian Art-Kindred Spirits is highly recommended. (See THE COMMITTEE: TAXATION WITH REPRESENTATION for availability.)