September to October 2023
Taiye Idahor is an artist from Lagos, Nigeria. Her artistic research interests focus on notions of feminine absence and their implications for society, as well as the significance of hair and red beads as markers of identity and power.
During her fellowship in collaboration with the Department of Contemporary Art at the Ethnologisches Museum, Taiye Idahor created the textile work Imuetiyanosa (2023), using screen printing and hand sewing with thread as methods of drawing. The work is inspired by the 17th/18th-century sculpture that depicts Princess Edeleyo, the eldest daughter of Oba Ewuare, one of the Benin rulers of the 15th century. Taiye not only studied the sculpture of Princess Edeleyo extensively but also her journey and attempt at becoming Oba. This new piece ties in with the artist’s interests in feminine narratives and notions of power, as also seen in her coral collages already on display in the exhibition, acquired by the museum in 2022.
The new works present conversations about female representation within Benin monarchy, art and society. In Benin’s language, Imuetiyanosa can be translated as “I put my trust in God”, to imply rest from Edeleyo’s unsuccessful attempt at becoming Oba. Taiye Idahor on this:
Art is my own way of capturing a memory, fixing it, or, let's say, reviving a memory.
Taiye Idahor is a visual artist living and working in Lagos, Nigeria. She studied Fine Art and Sculpture at the Yaba College of Technology, Lagos. Her studio practice is multidisciplinary, incorporating drawing, sculpture, collage, painting, and printmaking to articulate ideas of women’s identity. Taiye is constantly seeking ways to subsume feminine narratives, while also excavating her own ancestry and stories from her hometown of Benin City.
