exhibit: the village b-boy

 

The exhibition of over 20 images captures the exuberance of the United States’ most significant musical export since jazz. Demonstrating a masterful use of graphite, paint markers, acrylic, spray paint and stencils, Udofia epitomizes a sophisticated understanding of the African localization of Western pop culture. With eyes that track, smiles that beguile and flowing patterns, the viewer is instantly transported into the hip-hop culture of Udofia’s childhood in Nigeria. An intimate glimpse into simple pleasures such as a new cassingle brought from the capital and shared with friends over a boom-box and pigeon cypher, the collection’s use of bold colors is a nod to Nigerian traditional artistry while the techniques ground the works firmly in a contemporary American style.
The melding of traditionally inspired wax fabric prints alongside easily identifiable motifs of the golden age of hip-hop give the Western viewer a glimpse into the catholic/ubiquitous spread of slick rhymes over phat beats in beyond US borders. Whether the first time you heard Public Enemy was in Akwa Ibom State, London or New York the textured scenes represented in series will harken cheeky reminiscences days past.