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Kalu Okpara
USA
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“My work reflects on environmental concerns and addresses our (humankind’s) relationship to the world – as we perceive it and interact with it.”
“An artist cannot fail; it is a success to simply be one." This single sentence sums up for Kalu Okpara what it is to be an artist, an individual who can immerse themselves in an occupation that they love doing. Although people can aspire to become artists for various reasons, they may want to change the world, become commercially successful, or make political statements, for Kalu it’s a lot simpler, he simply enjoys creating art.
Awaken Dream | Wood Carving Book of Life | Wood Carving Heritage | Mixed Media Musical Jamboree | Mixed Media Exodus | Mixed Media Standing Ovation | Wood Carving People"s Paradise | Wood Carving
$2,500
24 X 38
In this piece, the artist emphasizes that one must become more aware of oneself or certain characteristics. Or your fear of waking up to something dreadful (a bad surprise). Therefore, one must reflect a positive development in awareness, new perspectives, and desire for something new. This is possible when one is no longer living in a dream world where you filter everything through your ego and focus on the future.
Anyone can call themselves an artist, but not many people can produce real art that can translate their ideas and feelings into art form. Kalu feels the trick is to be able to manage your own projects to reflect your artistic expression and individual philosophy.
Book of Life | Wood Carving
$4,000
31 X 49
The artist is not following fate. Before choosing which path to follow, he embarks on an incredible adventure that spans three fantastical worlds where he must face his greatest fears. He’s cheerful, easygoing, and eccentric, but always trying to follow the rules as he’s in charge of keeping a balance between the Land of the Remembered and the Land of the Forgotten. Apparently, races may be different, but behaviors have always been the same.
At college, classes were a broad range of learning experiences that helped him to stimulate the development of his technical, creative, and analytical abilities. The course was structured around tutorials, group critiques, seminars, and open-studio sessions where students were encouraged to negotiate their own particular approach to fine art through five areas of practice: painting, sculpture, ceramics, textiles, and graphics.
“My work is traditionally African-driven, and I was greatly influenced by professor El Anatsui who was my teacher, mentor, and instructor.”
Society has become increasingly disconnected from nature. Everyone has come to see this planet as a mine to extract the resources they need to maintain their extravagant lifestyles and as a dumping station for the toxic waste products.
Heritage | Mixed Media Musical Jamboree | Mixed Media Exodus | Mixed Media Standing Ovation | Wood Carving People"s Paradise | Wood Carving
$4,500
31 X 40
Heritage refers to valued property such as historic buildings, artwork, books, manuscripts, and other artifacts that have been passed down from previous generations. They are of special value and are worthy of preservation. In this case, the traditional African musical value tends to play an unparalleled role in such ideology. Musical heritage is of special value and is worthy of preservation.
Heritage refers to valued property such as historic buildings, artwork, books, manuscripts, and other artifacts that have been passed down from previous generations. They are of special value and are worthy of preservation. In this case, the traditional African musical value tends to play an unparalleled role in such ideology. Musical heritage is of special value and is worthy of preservation.
This piece depicts a traditional African voco-motive musical group. The beat is identical to the underlying pulse of a given piece of music, which may extend over more than a single beat. The number and relative positions of accented and unaccented beats furnish the basis of proper metric articulation, with the strongest accent usually accorded to the audience.
Musical Jamboree | Mixed Media
$3,500
28 X 50
Kalu believes in securing a “habitat” for future generations of every species and not just human beings because it is essential that mankind tunes themselves in with nature and regain greater awareness of their planet, understand it better, and take better stewardship of it.
“In my work process, I look at indigenous as well as ancient cultures, whose life philosophies perceive mankind as an integrated part of nature, rather than attempting to dominate over it.”
“I believe that admiration for nature is inherent in all of us but tends to get subdued for a majority of our planet’s population who live busy consumer-oriented lifestyles.”
The artist believes that through the means of art, it is possible to point out the importance of environmental soundness – through speaking to emotion and passion for nature, and through unlocking an ancient sense of freedom and awe.
Exodus | Mixed Media
$3,500
28 X 39
Exodus 1 involves the movement of people from one place to another. This piece depicts people fleeing from violence, persecution, and instability. These may include political, religious, or social instability.
The focus of this piece is on the traditional African political climate which has used violence, oppression, and even death as a political tool leading to the exodus of any opposition in the arena. The artist hereby highlights the destructions and the effects of such in the communities.
He also believes that artists have the power to reach out to society and direct public attention - in an inspirational non-intrusive way – a way that might reach audiences more readily than plain results of scientific study - which can seem inaccessible or tedious.
Traditionally, a standing ovation has been reserved for performances that exceed expectations or stun, surprise, or amuse an audience to the point of spontaneously erupting from their seat. However, this piece tends to shed more light on its value by depicting it on an assemblage of different characteristic
Standing Ovation | Wood Carving
$4,500
30 X 32
Traditionally, a standing ovation has been reserved for performances that exceed expectations or stun, surprise, or amuse an audience to the point of spontaneously erupting from their seat. However, this piece tends to shed more light on its value by depicting it on an assemblage of different characteristic
He is not interested in creating lasting artworks, as he believes our planet is over-saturated with man-made products. While he likes to unfold his work into large immersive experiences, he prefers that it lives on in its documentation only, and in the memories of his audiences.
This tells the story of a random man on the street who ignores the plights and suffering of a homeless woman despite the fact that she calls out to him for help. The man deliberately acts as though he can’t hear her and crosses the street to avoid the homeless woman and her plight. Through the piece, the artist then goes on to beg everyone listening not to ignore the plights of the homeless. It tells us that for us, it’s just another day in paradise, but for them it isn't the same
People"s Paradise | Wood Carving
$2,500
24 X 42
“With my artwork, I aim to provoke thought and engage my audiences intellectually.”
Once Upon a Time | Wood Carving
$3,000
30 X 32
This work emphasizes on the fact that the world is living a unique moment, and the future life may be different from what it was before. The unending spiral movement sheds some light on an unending human advancement, curiosity, quest for knowledge, invention, and evolution.
Professor El Anatsui’s influence contributed to his choices of material and genre. He barely works on three-dimensional materials but his choice of special pieces of wood and other unconventional materials enables him to create forms and depth on a two-dimensional surface, thereby creating a three-dimensional effect.
This piece depicts people fleeing from violence, persecution, and instability. These may include political, religious, or social instability. The focus of this piece is on the traditional African political climate which has used violence, oppression, and even death as a political tool leading to the exodus of any opposition in the arena. The artist hereby highlights the destructions and the effects of such in our communities.
Exodus II | Wood Carving
$2,500
24 X 39
It is important to note that the entire creative process is centered on etching, which involves a gradual chipping off or chiseling of little pieces to portray the artist's state of mind as well as deliver the message to the audience.
Festac Mask | Wood Carving
$2,000
48 X 17
Festac Mask Craving is a depiction of the Benin ivory mask, which is a miniature sculptural portrait in ivory of Idia, the Iyoba (Queen Mother) of the 16th century Benin Empire, taking the form of a traditional African mask. The Mask has its deep roots in the ancient city of Benin in Edo State of Nigeria, and can be traced to the expansive conquest of Queen Idia, who during her reign, extended the frontier of what is known as Ancient Benin Empire to unbelievable heights and wide geographic
“My genre of art involves the assemblage of special pieces of wooden panels, with the aim of creating some abstract effects that capture the mindset of the artists at the time of making such a piece.”
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