Victor Ehikhamenor: Portraits from a world in transition

Nosmot Gbadamosi, CNN
4 minute read
Updated 6:02 AM EST, Thu January 31, 2019
"I am constantly referencing my village. From there I expand to the world because it's from that source that I see the world," says Nigerian born Victor Ehikhamenor. The artist is considered one of the most important contemporary African artists to emerge from Nigeria.
"I am constantly referencing my village. From there I expand to the world because it's from that source that I see the world," says Nigerian born Victor Ehikhamenor. The artist is considered one of the most important contemporary African artists to emerge from Nigeria.
Courtesy Bret Rubin
A villager in Udomi-Uwessan, a small town in Edo State, southern Nigeria. Award-winning artist Victor Ehikhamenor shot the portraits. He wanted to document their lives before residents died and were superseded by a younger generation seeking cultural markers from the new world.
Before They Leave (2010) —
A villager in Udomi-Uwessan, a small town in Edo State, southern Nigeria. Award-winning artist Victor Ehikhamenor shot the portraits. He wanted to document their lives before residents died and were superseded by a younger generation seeking cultural markers from the new world.
Courtesy Victor Ehikhamenor
The portraits are juxtaposed with his series American Invasion showing teenagers donning western clothing something he felt was bizarre, considering "there was only about maybe three or four people that have a TV in the village."
American Invasion (2009) —
The portraits are juxtaposed with his series American Invasion showing teenagers donning western clothing something he felt was bizarre, considering "there was only about maybe three or four people that have a TV in the village."
Courtesy Victor Ehikhamenor
"It was kind of interesting to look at that cross referencing of cultures," says Ehikhamenor.<br />
Before They Leave —
"It was kind of interesting to look at that cross referencing of cultures," says Ehikhamenor.
Courtesy Victor Ehikhamenor
The visual artist who lived in the US at that time, wanted to photograph Benin residents as a way of preserving their history "in an art form".
Before They Leave —
The visual artist who lived in the US at that time, wanted to photograph Benin residents as a way of preserving their history "in an art form".
Courtesy Victor Ehikhamenor
"I realize that every time I travel back and visit my village, one person has died," he says. "A lot of them don't even have pictures so I decided just to do a portraiture of as many of them as I could titled before they leave."
Before They Leave —
"I realize that every time I travel back and visit my village, one person has died," he says. "A lot of them don't even have pictures so I decided just to do a portraiture of as many of them as I could titled before they leave."
Courtesy Victor Ehikhamenor
The town stands just outside of Benin City, which once served as the seat of the old Benin Empire -- a kingdom dating back to the 11th century.
American Invasion —
The town stands just outside of Benin City, which once served as the seat of the old Benin Empire -- a kingdom dating back to the 11th century.
Courtesy Victor Ehikhamenor
The city is revered by Nigerians who see it as the birthplace of the country's modern civilization.
American Invasion —
The city is revered by Nigerians who see it as the birthplace of the country's modern civilization.
Courtesy Victor Ehikhamenor
"It's a documentation and freezing of memory for me," explains Ehikhamenor.
American Invasion —
"It's a documentation and freezing of memory for me," explains Ehikhamenor.
Courtesy Victor Ehikhamenor
The artist's works are peppered with Nigeria's colonial past -- 1929 Girls of Aba Riot --conceptually recounts the "Women's War" a period in Nigeria's history where women in the provinces of Calabar and Owerri rioted against colonial rule.
1929 Girls of Aba Riot —
The artist's works are peppered with Nigeria's colonial past -- 1929 Girls of Aba Riot --conceptually recounts the "Women's War" a period in Nigeria's history where women in the provinces of Calabar and Owerri rioted against colonial rule.
Courtesy Victor Ehikhamenor