The Great Migration

This painting explores the desire Nigerians have to leave the country due to bad governance, poor economic state and insecurity. The work considers the tension between what Nigeria was imagined to be at independence and how it is experienced today. It also reflects my position as someone who is no longer living in Nigeria, thinking about distance, memory, and the emotional complexity of leaving one’s home. The painting uses metaphor to explore migration and the feeling of striving toward something that feels just out of reach. With the use of gesture three self-portrait figures portray these ideas within the work.One performs a butterfly hand movement symbolizing freedom to escape. Another figure looks worried, resting their head on their hand while looking outward toward the viewer. The third figure points toward the butterfly gesture, but their hand is missing, representing a desire that cannot be fulfilled. A wildebeest is portrayed mid-jump referencing the Great Migration, an annual movement of large herds across the Serengeti-Mara in search of greener pastures. A television is positioned on a table displaying a plated fish meal with a fork resting on it, I did this to convey the idea of observing opportunities from a distance. With the presence of social media, many people constantly encounter and engage with content that shows the lifestyles of people abroad that appear to be comfortable. These images are often interpreted as evidence of greener pastures, creating the impression that leaving the country guarantees an improved quality of life. However, what is seen online rarely reflects the full reality.

Three figures in a wishful state.