Routes
Ima was born in Ukehe, Nigeria, where his passion for drawing began at an early age. Despite his parents’ wish for him to become a lawyer, he chose to pursue art and studied Painting and Art History at the University of Benin, graduating in 1995. From 1995 to 1999, he worked as curator and manager at Didi Museum in Lagos, where he organised exhibitions and art-related symposia. Since then, he has participated in numerous exhibitions in Nigeria and the Netherlands.
His paintings draw on everyday life in Nigeria and across Africa, often incorporating memories and experiences from his own upbringing. Working primarily with oil, acrylic and charcoal, he frequently combines these materials in mixed-media works characterised by a vivid use of colour. For Ima, these bright colours symbolise hope and resilience. His work also addresses social and cultural issues, particularly the position of women and the inequalities, marginalisation and burdens they continue to face. Through his paintings, Ima sees himself as giving visual expression to both the realities and complexities of life in Africa.
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