Contemporary artist and author, Anthony Azekwoh’s love for his country has embolden his art to speak volumes about patriotism. His work draws from a childhood immersed in folklore, as he continues the long enshrined tradition of African storytelling through his work across a variety of medium.

Azekwoh goes in search of justice and fairness in his solo show, titled, There Is a Country, which opens on Monday October 2, 2023 at Yenwa Gallery, Muri-Okunola Street, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Curated by Ugonna Ibe, it’s a two-volume art show that explores the intricate fabric of contemporary Nigeria, a country that suffers from corruption, yet brimming with hope.

Volume one dwells on digital paintings. The narrative begins from October 20, 2020, a significant period in Nigeria’s history.

This date marks the Lekki tollgate shooting, a watershed moment for both the artist and the country, according to Azekwoh.

With Chinua Achebe’s treatise, ‘There Was a Country,’ as a plank to stand the show’s philosophy, Azekwoh’s work serves as an artistic proclamation, grappling with the new realities and unyielding hope of a young generation of Nigerians.

The exhibition delves into the profound societal shifts catalysed by moments of collective trauma and the emergence of inspiring figures like Peter Obi.

According to him, “it is not just about the Nigeria that is, but the Nigeria that should be.”

Azekwoh uses a tongue in cheek motif to present an allegorical cross section of various facets of the Nigerian lived experience.

Among the works to be on display is Animal Talk, dated 2022, a piece that draws inspiration from Fela Kuti’s Beasts of No Nation and Orwell’s Animal Farm.

According to him, a lot of blame rightly goes to politicians and leaders for the state of the country’s governance, Animal Talk expands this accountability to a myriad of members of the Nigerian public.

Featuring politicians, religious leaders, police and state enforcers and Anthony himself, this set of work makes a subtle comment about how a society can hold itself back, by accepting things as they are rather than fighting for how they should be.

His work primarily focuses on African folklore and mythology, using these themes and figures to tell stories of his country, transformation and change.

Volume two concludes the narrative, as a sculptural piece shows, further enriching the exploration of Nigeria’s complexities.

The digital edition of ‘There is A Country’, which will run simultaneously, replicates traditional techniques that Interrogates digital media. This edition blurs the boundary between both by producing physical, corporeal manifestations of his work.