Uche Okpa-Iroha wins 2nd prize award. A boost for photography in Nigeria
It is heart warming to learn that a photographer has won the 2nd prize of N200,000 approximately $1500 in a country that has yet to fully come to terms with photography as an integral part of the visual arts. The winning work is "Late Nite Callers". This is good news for the emerging photography collective BlackBox of which there are 4 other members. We look forward to more exciting work from the collective.
Uche Okpa-Iroha, Late Nite Callers 2007
Okpa-Iroha's Bio
Uche Okpa - Iroha was born on the 2nd of January, 1972 in Enugu, Enugu State in the eastern part of Nigeria. Uche holds a Bachelors of Technology degree in Food Science and Technology in 1997 from the Federal University of Technology, Owerri. His main vision as a photographer is to raise awareness with the public and policy makers on issues that affect the local people and the environment. His main area is making portraits of 'street' people and reportage. Uche is a founding member of the new Nigerian photography collective known as BLACK BOX. Their first major professional out was in 2006 with an exhibition titled Lagos: Nocturnal Vibrations. He was part of the photography workshop FootballWorlds at the popular Maracana stadium in Ajegunle organized by the Geothe Institut and conducted by Berlin-based Akinbode Akinbiyi in March, 2006 and the just concluded art exhibition and competition - Life in My City, 2007 - held in Enugu and organized by Rocana Nigeria Limited in partnership with the Alliance Francaise, Enugu where he finished second with his photography work 'Late Nite Callers'. Uche Okpa-Iroha lives and works in Lagos, Nigeria as a photographer and kidney health campaigner.
LIFE IN MY CITY STATEMENT
'Life in My City' 2007 - An exhibition of Paintings, Photographs, Textile, Ceramics and other installations by young artists and photographers in Nigeria.
Organized by Rocana Nigeria Limited in association with the Alliance Francaise in Enugu and the Nigerian Council of the Pan African Circle of artists (PACA), 'Life in My City' will be the firts of an annual gathering for the Arts which will encourage creative competition on the continent.
By bringing the images of Nigerian cities to life, the event will encourage the development of art not not just in the region but spreading its wings beyond the nation and the continent.
The diverse skills of the photographers and artists in Nigeria will be brought together and the best work presented at the selected locations across the city and culminating in a gala night of entertainment with poetry, music, and other performances.
This exhibition will be a unique and extremely important opportunity to have an amazing pilgrimage for the Arts in Nigeria. It is expected that the exhibition will be an intrinsic part of the development of a major renaissance and it should be an honour to be a part of it.
Life in My City is a mammoth undertaking but timely in its importance and we expect it to be an extremely exciting project. We believe it's our duty as individuals to pass on the baton of hope byintroducing a new audience to the brilliance of the Nigerian Youth and visual exuberance of original interpretations of 'their' life in 'their' city. In doing so we set out to encourage greater cultural awareness by holding on to that integrity which lies in our culture and minds
(message from the organizing comittee 'Life in My City' 2007 project)
Uche Okpa-Iroha, Late Nite Callers 2007Okpa-Iroha's Bio
Uche Okpa - Iroha was born on the 2nd of January, 1972 in Enugu, Enugu State in the eastern part of Nigeria. Uche holds a Bachelors of Technology degree in Food Science and Technology in 1997 from the Federal University of Technology, Owerri. His main vision as a photographer is to raise awareness with the public and policy makers on issues that affect the local people and the environment. His main area is making portraits of 'street' people and reportage. Uche is a founding member of the new Nigerian photography collective known as BLACK BOX. Their first major professional out was in 2006 with an exhibition titled Lagos: Nocturnal Vibrations. He was part of the photography workshop FootballWorlds at the popular Maracana stadium in Ajegunle organized by the Geothe Institut and conducted by Berlin-based Akinbode Akinbiyi in March, 2006 and the just concluded art exhibition and competition - Life in My City, 2007 - held in Enugu and organized by Rocana Nigeria Limited in partnership with the Alliance Francaise, Enugu where he finished second with his photography work 'Late Nite Callers'. Uche Okpa-Iroha lives and works in Lagos, Nigeria as a photographer and kidney health campaigner.
LIFE IN MY CITY STATEMENT
'Life in My City' 2007 - An exhibition of Paintings, Photographs, Textile, Ceramics and other installations by young artists and photographers in Nigeria.
Organized by Rocana Nigeria Limited in association with the Alliance Francaise in Enugu and the Nigerian Council of the Pan African Circle of artists (PACA), 'Life in My City' will be the firts of an annual gathering for the Arts which will encourage creative competition on the continent.
By bringing the images of Nigerian cities to life, the event will encourage the development of art not not just in the region but spreading its wings beyond the nation and the continent.
The diverse skills of the photographers and artists in Nigeria will be brought together and the best work presented at the selected locations across the city and culminating in a gala night of entertainment with poetry, music, and other performances.
This exhibition will be a unique and extremely important opportunity to have an amazing pilgrimage for the Arts in Nigeria. It is expected that the exhibition will be an intrinsic part of the development of a major renaissance and it should be an honour to be a part of it.
Life in My City is a mammoth undertaking but timely in its importance and we expect it to be an extremely exciting project. We believe it's our duty as individuals to pass on the baton of hope byintroducing a new audience to the brilliance of the Nigerian Youth and visual exuberance of original interpretations of 'their' life in 'their' city. In doing so we set out to encourage greater cultural awareness by holding on to that integrity which lies in our culture and minds
(message from the organizing comittee 'Life in My City' 2007 project)
posted by Bisi at
11:51
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