A look inside the Nigerian Modernism exhibition at Tate Modern

What does Nigerian modernism mean to you?

“To me, Nigerian modernism is about how these artists fashioned their own ways to fulfil their desire to be modern. They weren’t always strictly conforming to other modern art movements spreading through Europe, such as cubism or surrealism.

These artists were asking critical questions about the state of contemporary society around them. We see their determination to tell contextualised stories on Nigerian perspectives. Stories connected to everything from political independence to everyday life. I think there’s something incredibly modern about innovating through wood carving, textile, pictorial representation and other mediums, alongside world-changing developments like pan-Africanism and decolonisation.”

Uche Okeke, Fantasy and Masks

What do you hope visitors will take away from this exhibition?

“I hope visitors feel inspired by the wealth of artistic perspectives represented in the exhibition.

Nigeria is a multicultural, multi-ethnic nation, so the artwork reflects that. The artists exhibited celebrate their own cultural heritage in pioneering ways. Therefore, I hope visitors take away a sense of that diversity. I also hope they feel encouraged to reflect upon their own heritage, regardless of whether they are Nigerian or African.

Some works also explore the role of religion and spirituality in society, or the relationship between art and politics. So visitors can reflect on how these subjects are still pertinent today, too.”

Tate ModernJai Monaghan