Bonhams Auction House Announces First British Auction of Contemporary African Art
Founded in 1793, Bonhams is one of the world's oldest and largest auctioneers of fine art and antiques. The London-based auction house has in recent years hosted a number of groundbreaking sales of art from South Africa, and has obtained record prices for artworks by South African artists such as Maggie Laubser and Gerard Sekoto.
Such is the growing public interest in modern and contemporary African art that Bonhams has organised its first sale of contemporary African art featuring artists from at least six African countries. The sale is scheduled for April 8.
The focus of this public sale is, in particular, contemporary African art which seems to forge a link between ritual and modern art.
Giles Peppiatt, Head of African Art at Bonhams, comments on one of the works on auction,
'This particular work by the young Nigerian artist Nnenna Okore (born 1975) titled Ashoebi II, 2008 is a bridge between Africa's ritual art tradition and a modern contemporary sensibility. It is proof that today Africa is in the forefront of the most exciting developments in contemporary art.'
The work in question, lot 92, is made of clay and burlap in three pieces. It has been exhibited in London's October Gallery as part of the exhibition 'Nnenna Okore: Ulukububa - Infinite Flow' and it is estimated to sell for �22,000-32,000.
A former student of El Anatsui, Nnenna Okore's art is similarly inspired by the use of discarded and found objects in rural areas of her native Nigeria. Her materials include newspapers, wax, cloth, rope, clay and sticks, and she applies various repetitive and labour-intensive techniques, like weaving, twisting, sewing, dyeing, waxing and rolling.
By re-imagining everyday waste, as well as natural materials, Okore's works challenge environmental neglect, consumerism and globalisation. Her work, by virtue of these influences, celebrates the transformation of discarded materials into cultural objects, forms, and spaces and brings a critical focus to bear on the consumption and recycling cultures in parts of Nigeria.
Among the other notable works in this sale will be three works by Enwonwu, another Nigerian artist.
For more information please contact
Julian Roup
Bonhams Press Office
Tel: 0207 468 8259
email julian.roup@bonhams.com
www.thami-mnyele.nl
