Uzo Egonu

 

  Uzo Egonu (1931-1996) - Artist/Painter/Print Maker
A native of Ossomala. Once described as a master of metaphor. He was born on Christmas day, 25 December, 1931 in Onitsha. He lived in England from 1945 until his death on 14 August, 1996 where he pursued his carrer of choice as an artist. In 1983 the International Association of Art admitted him into the league of life counsellors. This honour placed him in the same fellowship league with reputed 20th century artists such as Henry Moore, John Miro, and Louise Nevelson.

Uzo Egonu's obituary which appeared in The Guardian of London, of 31 August, 1996 inter alia, said this of him: "Egonu challenged the Western myth of the naive African artist by setting his work within a modernist tradition, combining two visual languages - based on his "critical encounter" with western art and an awareness of his African heritage and experience of post-colonial Nigeria". Egonu's exuberant colours and structured forms defy the emotionalism common in the depiction of tragedy painting. He used allegory and metaphor to discuss the intricacies and inconsistency of the human condition and, like no other Third World Artists, he redefined boundaries of modernism. He was also a very fine print maker, receiving many awards for his silkscreen etchings. He was also a jury member in the 1981 UNESCO-organized poster competition. The obituary attested to his personality, as "Kind, soft spoken, compassionate, very private, Egonu never gave up his deep faith in life despite losing much of his sight in the 1970's and suffering two massive heart attacks in the 1980."

He is survived by his wife Hiltrud whom he married in 1970, and by several brothers and sisters and cousins including: Martha Asolo, Rosemary Obaze, David Egonu, Jake Egonu, Joe Egonu, Rowland Egonu and Ben Egonu, Snr.

Uzo Egonu's paintings have sold worldwide. His life, time, adventure and work is chronicled by Olu Oguibe in a 1995 biography titled: "Uzo Egonu: An African Artist in the West" (London: Kala Press, P.O. Box 3509, London NW63PQ) pp. 175.

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