Nengi Omuku

Born in Nigeria, Nengi Omuku explores the effect of contemporary social and political events on individuals and groups of people. Her works are created by applying oil paint onto strips of Sanyan, a traditional fabric that was used in clothing in pre-colonial Nigeria.

‘Naomi’ is a portrait of the artist’s close friend. The way in which the sitter’s face is painted shifts the focus of the portrait from representation to interiority, highlighting her state of mind. The stripes in her clothing mirror the pattern in the Sanyan fabric which the work was painted on.