How to be poor in the head, 2020
Amarachi Okafor

Artist Biography

Amarachi Okafor is an artist from Nigeria whose art practice is international. She works from Orie studio, an artist(s) Space that she founded. She lives and works at Karu, Abuja, Nigeria.

Amarachi is educated with BA (2:1, Painting), 2002and MFA (Sculpture), 2006 both from University of Nigeria Nsukka. She has an MA in Curatorial Practice (Curating Contemporary Art, 2012 from Falmouth University, UK.

During her BA degree studies in Nigeria (1999-2000), she worked with El Anatsui (Ghanain born, Nigerian based Sculptor), as an intern/studio assistant. In 2004,she ran a private studio practice for 8 months at Aina Onabolu studios, NationalGallery of Art, Lagos after some 3 months stint at the nearby Universal Studios. During 2005 and 2006, whilst studying for an MFA in Sculpture, she had a studio practice in Nsukka.

She was recipient of the UNESCO Unesco Aschberg artists'award in 2007- which came with a Grant and an international residency to Lademoen Kustnerverksteder [LKV] in Trondheim Norway. She was the Commonwealth Foundation Commonwealth Connections recipient in 2009 which supported her travel to the Bahamas for research and exhibition. She was an international artist resident at Nordisk Kunstnarsenter Dalsåsen – Norway, 2009;Popopstudios, Nassau- Bahamas, 2010.  Upon graduating from Falmouth University, UK, Amarachi was supported by the Art Department's travel scholarship for internship. 

She was awarded a prize at the National Art Competition (Nigeria) in 2014. She has exhibited at Babel Art Space, Norway, Oriel Mostyn Gallery, Wales, Manchester Art Gallery, UK. In recent years she has been making many art projects with the public in alternative art spaces, including holding her unique relational meetings at 4 locations as part of the Jogjarkarta Biennial, Indonesia in 2015; and many more in Nigeria. 

She still continues to work with El Anatsui, alongside her own art practice.

Artist Statement

In a singular way, I am deeply affected by human actions in the world, and to society (people) in the course of history, more so today; the impact of these activities on people; the nature of this impact, and their long/short term ripple effects. These affect my thought processes and go on to get translated into my work, habitually. 

Concerned about humanity and our role and place in society, it can feel like my work is often lamentations; at times, I preach Hope and Joy– lifting spirits… When shall we have a delightful living on earth, where there will be no injustice, war, and disease? What is the path to Paradise?[1]

I have used containment as idea, metaphor and inspiration[2]- to question and to point to notions- the concept of bag and bagging, even humans as bags, baggers, and baggage.

I adopted text,[3] colour (from any source) and embroidery/stitches as my visual language whilst leaning into the fringes of architecture and construction to try and translate my ideas- even when I paint, I make what I refer to as built or constructed paintings. These have form.

Words are powerful. I am constantly drawing from this gift of nature and leading others to explore with me this materiality of the written text and the action of writing as an art-making process. I am working also at the crossroads between tactile and ephemeral art forms, looking at the links and relationship between these and triggering situations where words and performativity are tangible materials for making art?

Hence, I actuate performative relational meetings in public, with ordinary people with(in) communities, where we enjoy some chance ephemeral occurrences (artistic and ordinary) that are quite lasting.

All of my work is for learning meant to bring me and my audiences to new knowledge as we are led to searching our hearts and discovering alternative ways of living.

[1] 1st Raison d'etre in my work – 1st core/purpose LONGING FOR  A PARADISE to come where there will be no sadness, pain injustice. Delight. Joy

[2] Material/medium, 1. – bagging and embodiment. BAGGING, containment

[3] Material/medium, 2 – “The words that I speak to you is Power and they are Life" Word is Spirit and Spirit is power. Word is Power and Texts belong within the context of our everyday. EXPLORE WORD/TEXT AND the power thereof…