Wilfred Ukpong

**Wilfred Ukpong** be French-Nigerian interdisciplinary artist den researcher wey ein distinctive socially engaged practice dey utilize chaw interwoven mediums, including photography, film, sculpture, performance, architecture, den creative workshops, so say ego tackle pertinent social issues plus community participation den intervention. Ein work frequently dey engage plus de social consequences of environmental issues insyd de Niger Delta as result of ein petroleum industry.

## Ein Life den work
Dem born Wilfred Ukpong insyd southern Nigeria. He now dey live den work between Oxford (UK), Clermont-Ferrand (France), den Eket (Nigeria). Ein work dey use aspects of Afrofuturism den mysticism insyd ein work so say ego confront de social consequences of environmental issues wey dey Niger Delta insyd as result of ein petroleum industry. Ukpong get ein BA/MA insyd Fine Arts from Ecole Supérieure d'Art Lorient, France, den ein PhD from Oxford Brookes University, UK. He be de founder den director of Blazing Century Studios wey dey between Nigeria, France den de United States.

Ukpong ein largest project to date be Blazing Century-1. He say: *"Spanning between 2011 and 2017, Blazing Century-1 is the first installment in a 10-part multi-faceted body of work. Each part is set within a geographical location often embroiled in social and environmental devastation and is developed on several platforms,"* wey include sculpture, photography, sound, performance, film, music, workshops, den talks."

Since 2020, na dem exhibit Ukpong ein art films den photographic installations for Alliance Française/Mike Adenuga Centre (Nigeria), FotoFest, Houston (USA), Institut Français du Nigeria Abuja (Nigeria), MARKK Museum Hamburg (Germany), Pipe Factory Glasgow (UK), Royal Society of Arts, London (UK), Welt Museum Vienna (Austria) amongst odas.

## Ein Exhibitions

### Ein Solo Exhibitions dem select

* *Wilfred Ukpong: Niger-Delta / Future-Cosmos*, Autograph ABP, London, 16 February – 1 June 2024. Curate by Mark Sealy
* *Blazing Century 1*, French Institute in Nigeria, Abuja, Nigeria, 2022
* *Future – World – EXV*, at Public Ecology Film Festival, Film Screening den Symposium at de Association for Visual Arts insyd Cape Town, 2022
* *Composing A Cause: A Meditative Sonic Visual Experience* curated Film Screening, Performance den Conversation by Wilfred Ukpong, Professor Ray Lee den Hugo Tromp at Autograph-ABP London, 2021
* *Future – World – EXV,* Royal Society of Art London, Film Screening den Conversation
* *Future – World – EXV: PRELUDE 2*, film Screening, den Conversation at de ESSAY FILM FESTIVAL LONDON, 2021
* *BC-1: Niger-Delta/Future-Cosmos*, Alliance Francaise de Lagos/Mike Adenuga Centre Lagos, 2021

### Ein Group Exhibitions dem select

* *Africa Rising: 21st-Century African Photography*, Fitchburg Art Museum, Massachusetts, 2024
* *Science Fiction(s) - If there was a tomorrow*, Welt Museum Wien (World Museum Vienna), 2023
* *Wasser Botschaften/Water Massages*, Museum am Rothenbaum–World Cultures and Arts (MARKK), 2023
* *The Colour of the Climate Crisis*, Pipe Factory, Glasgow, Scotland, 31 October – 2 November 2021. Organised by Do The Green Thing.
* *African Cosmologies — Photography, Time and the Other*, FotoFest Biennial 2020, Houston, USA. Curated by Mark Sealy. Dem postpone secof de COVID-19 pandemic.
* Diana Ejaita and Wilfred Ukpong Exhibition at Omenka Gallery Lagos, 2019

## Publications plus contributions by Ukpong

* *African Cosmologies: Photography, Time and the Other*. Schilt, 2020. Co-edit by Mark Sealy den Steven Evans. Exhibition catalogue. .

## Ein Filmography

* *Future – World – EXV* (2019) – direct by Ukpong

## Ein Awards
Insyd 2010, Ukpong ein long-term project *Blazing Century 1* receive a special grant from de Prince Claus Fund Amsterdam. Ein film *Future World* (2017) win de Golden City Gates Excellence Award for ITB Berlin insyd 2018 wey na dem present am for de Nigerian Senate make e encourage environmental change insyd de Niger Delta. Insyd 2024, na dem shortlist Ukpong for de inaugural Saltzman Prize from Lisa Saltzman.

## Ein Education

* PhD, Fine/Studio Arts, Oxford Brookes University, UK
* MFA, Fine/Studio Arts, Ecole Supérieure d'Art Lorient, France
* BA, Fine/Studio Arts, Ecole Supérieure d'Art Lorient, France

## References