Bob -Nosa, addresses societal ills with Protest Art

Bob -Nosa addresses societal ills with Protest Art

By Prisca Sam-Duru

For over four years, one of Nigeria’s finest painters, Bob-Nosa Uwagboe has been working on a body of work titled “Shorning life without Armour”. This is part of his kind of art known as the Protest Art. With this body of work, Nosa aims to address the consequences of bad leadership on the common man, a situation that births illegal migration, refugees, inhumanity, human trafficking, child labour etc. Interestingly, he was selected to exhibit part of the work in ‘That Art Fair’ taking place in Cape Town South Africa on from 17 February, 2016.

In spite of few major successes he has recorded, the Auchi Polytechnic graduate believes that his art is yet to receive the desired acceptance owing to how vibrant it is meant to be.

He describes this form of art as “Social and political commentary which I refer to as The protest art. It is the art that speaks for the oppressed, the art that kicks against bad leadership, the art that condemns inhumanity in our society.”\

Bob-Nosa’s paintings are more of a testament to his voice. Most of his paintings shocked his viewers who believe them to be thought provoking, radical, unique as well as life changing. One wonders why these works would not be easily collected or displayed in galleries. The Niger Delta-born creative artist supplies the answer to this mind boggling question. “My most challenging encounter as an artist is acceptability by family members and the society at large. I had to pursue my art career against my fathers’ wish and due to the nature of my art, the society finds it difficult to accept my form of art as “ART” rather they see it as being rebellious against what they term the usual. So I was not allowed to participate in some very important art exhibition but with the intervention of Signature Art Gallery and Catherine Pittet of Gondana Art in Cameroon, my art enjoyed mass appeal and my initial rejection became the tool that launched me into the international art space, though sometimes I still feel imprisoned being a protest artist in a country Bob -Nosa, addressing societal ills with Protest Art

“ You hardly find my works in galleries. It is not because I want it that way but because of rejection. It is only Signature Beyond Gallery in Ikoyi that has my works on display. People don’t appreciate this kind of art because it fights against corruption, and you know most people are corrupt. So, the galleries don’t collect my works because they feel it is working against those who should patronise them. Its like putting their mirror before them. I’m from the Niger Delta and I like to use my art to confront the issues plaguing the region. As well as issues affecting mankind. For instance issue of migration. There’s one piece I titled “The Floating Dead Bodies”. This piece captures the ugly incidences of migrants perishing in the Mediterranean sea while attempting to flee their countries due to war and poverty.”

On how he became a protest artist, Bob-Nosa noted that “I never had the opportunity to decide whether I want to be an artist or not, I found myself in Art right from childhood and also served as an apprentice in few private studios before I started full operation of the Protest Art Studio.”

While many would have called it quits owing to such daunting challenges such as Nosa experienced, he maintained that he chose to stick to art since it is the only thing he must continue to practice adding that he had reason to regret.
“I have no regret being an artist. Art has been a blessing. I have been able to move my art practice forward in spite of challenges because of my strong believe in Art.

Nigeria is the best place for me as an artist to practice. Nigeria is a huge material deposit site for me as a protest artist especially in terms of idea generation.”

“Art is serious business and I would advice that people don’t engage in it with the intention of just making money. I celebrate any person that shows interest in my work because it is not easy.

The artist frowned at neglect of the art sector by the government stressing that the government has a lot to do to promote art in the country. “Ive been to some African countries and I discovered that they have support from their government. Cameroon for example, once you are 50 years and above as an artist, you start receiving pension. This makes the artists to practice without fear of retirement. And this is why I strongly advise artists to use their art as their voice, to speak to the government, to make demands and to correct ills in the society. Many are just painting landscape, beautiful portraits but art is not just something we must use to decorate apartment. We can use it as a weapon against bad government, that was what Fela did as a musician. Visual artists can do likewise even though they may label you it doesn’t matter with time, you will be accepted.”