JEBILA OKONGWU draws on African history, symbolism, and spirituality, along with an assortment of different media–sculpture, painting, found objects, and banana boxes in particular!–to critique and repurpose stereotypes of African identity: exoticism, ethnocentrism, and the new patterns of migration, trade, and exploitation that flow to and from the continent. Jebila was born in London and grew up between Nigeria and Australia, before moving to Rome, where he currently lives and works. I had the opportunity to spend a day with him exploring an incredible and poignant body of work that combines Jebila’s multicultural background with his artistic vision and vast creative influences.
Where They’ is a visual documentation of the creative environments of artist & people, that meet during my travels, of homes and studios.
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