Amarachi Okafor’s art practice albeit international is very much rooted in the local. She works from ORIE STUDIO, an art production and research space she had founded, in Abuja, Nigeria.
Amarachi’s studies in the field of art rewards her with the following degrees: BA (Painting), 2002; MFA (Sculpture), 2006 (both from University of Nigeria Nsukka); and MA in Curatorial Practice, 2012 from Falmouth University, Cornwall, UK.
Practising consistently since 2003, she has shared work spaces at Universal studios and Aina Onabolu studios, Lagos; and had private studios at different times in Nsukka, Umuahia and Abuja.
She was recipient of the Unesco Aschberg artists’ award in 2007- leading to a residency at Lademoen Kustnerverksteder [LKV] in Trondheim Norway. As well, she was the Commonwealth Foundation Commonwealth Connections recipient in 2009 which supported her travels for research projects and a collaborative exhibition. She has also been granted residencies to Nkd – Norway and to Popopstudios, Nassau- Bahamas. Upon graduating from Falmouth University, Amarachi won the Art Department’s internship scholarship that year.
In 2014, she won the jury prize of the National Art Competition (Nigeria). She has exhibited at Babel Art Space, Norway, Oriel Mostyn Gallery, Wales, Manchester Art Gallery, UK, Jogjarkarta Biennial, Indonesia; and in recent years she has taken to making public art projects with audiences in galleries and alternative art spaces, a unique endeavour that she refers to as relational public art.
She studied under and has worked with El Anatsui (renowned Ghanaian born, Nigerian based Sculptor), since 1999. She worked in the curatorial department of the National Gallery of Art, Nigeria, as curatorial assistant and rose to Senior Curator, through 2008-2015.
Statement
Assessing the things happening to people in the course of history, I am affected profoundly by human actions in the world, and I question. I question the actions of humans in society through history-, more so today; the impact of these actions (societal culture and individual choices in terms of religion, relationships, sexuality, economics, politics…); the nature of these impact, and their long/short term effects on us and on other people. How do our actions determine our condition and affect our relationships? How do we ‘use’ nature and one another?
Issues like these afflict my peace of mind and go on to get translated into my work as I transform materials by stitching, fastening, tying and binding bits and pieces together.
Concerned in this way about our roles and place in the world, it can seem like I often wail and lament; but I am expounding hope, strength, and growth as tactics to challenge the human condition – such conditions as are amply evident in my part of the world [in Nigeria].
How can we find hope for agreeable living that combats injustice and lawlessness, towards steadfastness and love for all of nature for our total joy? What is the path to this Paradise?
© 2023 Amarachi Okafor (Orie). All Rights Reserved.