MATTHEW EGUAVOEN

Eguavoen depicts the vulnerability and openness associated with expressing the feelings of love, as well as the apprehension of protecting ones self from heart break and ulterior motives. His work addresses the effect of societal pressures and timelines set on youths to achieve certain goals by a specific age (e.g., career, marriage, children, etc.), and the mental toll that arises while trying to attain these landmarks. In his work the artist deals with the lack of justice in Nigerian society, in comparison to the way the justice system treats the rich and political class.

Furthermore, the artist investigates the impact of Slavery on the Africa and its people, the extinction of African traditional values and the growing sensation of religion, importation of western moral and cultural values to Africa and exiling Africa’s own cultural values, with the local population abandoning Africa for relative greener pastures in Western countries.

„I want people to see the good and the bad times I see. I want to make the unseen other-self tangible, to feel a connection to something larger and feel the magic of transformation, in so doing, inviting my viewers to look in.” – Matthew Eguavoen

Matthew Eguavoen (b. 1988 in Edo State, NG) attended the University of Port Harcourt, NG, where he attained a BA in Engineering for Civil Engineering and Structures. In his final year at the university, Matthew decided to pursue his passion for creating art through self-study, where he continued his artistic development. His recent solo exhibitions include shows at PM/AM, London, UK and at Afrikaris, Paris, FR. Eguavoen has participated at group exhibitions at Kunsthal KAdE, Amersfoort, NL; Bode, Berlin, DE; Kunsthalle Krems, Krems, AT; OOA Gallery, London, UK; Nothing at All, Hong Kong, CN; Afrikaris, Paris, FR; What if the World Gallery, Cape Town, ZA; Ada Accra Gallery, Accra, GH; Mitochondria Gallery, Houston TX, US, among others. His works are featured in collections across West Africa, Europe, and North America. Matthew Eguavoen lives and works in Lagos, NG.