Dilomprizulike
Encyclopedia
Dil Humphrey-Umezulike, better known as Dilomprizulike (born 1960 in Enugu
, Nigeria
) is a contemporary artist working in sculpture, performance and painting who has adopted the moniker 'The Junkman From Afrika'. He studied art at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria and has an MFA from the University of Dundee
, Scotland.
In his work he recycles and transforms heaps of old clothing and other detritus found on city streets, creating sculptural installations
and performances
that reflect the disenfranchised situation of many African people.
He created the 'Junkyard Museum of Awkward Things', a sculptural environment built up from found objects, in Lagos
and has also made a version of it for the Oriel Mostyn Gallery in Llandudno
, Wales.
Dilomprizulike explains his installation Wear and Tear in these terms:
In 2005 his work was exhibited in Africa Remix at London's Hayward Gallery
. He was also a resident at the Gasworks Gallery
while he prepared a piece for the Victoria and Albert Museum.
In 2010 he created Busy Street for the Herzliya Museum of Contemporary Art in Israel. The piece, which was made from local rubbish, was a reflection on Israel's consumer society.
Enugu
Enugu is the capital of Enugu State in Nigeria. It is located in the southeastern area of Nigeria and is largely populated by members of the Igbo ethnic group. The city has a population of 722,664 according to the 2006 Nigerian census. The name Enugu is derived from the two Igbo words Enu Ugwu...
, Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
) is a contemporary artist working in sculpture, performance and painting who has adopted the moniker 'The Junkman From Afrika'. He studied art at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria and has an MFA from the University of Dundee
University of Dundee
The University of Dundee is a university based in the city and Royal burgh of Dundee on eastern coast of the central Lowlands of Scotland and with a small number of institutions elsewhere....
, Scotland.
In his work he recycles and transforms heaps of old clothing and other detritus found on city streets, creating sculptural installations
Installation art
Installation art describes an artistic genre of three-dimensional works that are often site-specific and designed to transform the perception of a space. Generally, the term is applied to interior spaces, whereas exterior interventions are often called Land art; however, the boundaries between...
and performances
Performance art
In art, performance art is a performance presented to an audience, traditionally interdisciplinary. Performance may be either scripted or unscripted, random or carefully orchestrated; spontaneous or otherwise carefully planned with or without audience participation. The performance can be live or...
that reflect the disenfranchised situation of many African people.
He created the 'Junkyard Museum of Awkward Things', a sculptural environment built up from found objects, in Lagos
Lagos
Lagos is a port and the most populous conurbation in Nigeria. With a population of 7,937,932, it is currently the third most populous city in Africa after Cairo and Kinshasa, and currently estimated to be the second fastest growing city in Africa...
and has also made a version of it for the Oriel Mostyn Gallery in Llandudno
Llandudno
Llandudno is a seaside resort and town in Conwy County Borough, Wales. In the 2001 UK census it had a population of 20,090 including that of Penrhyn Bay and Penrhynside, which are within the Llandudno Community...
, Wales.
Dilomprizulike explains his installation Wear and Tear in these terms:
Wear and Tear as a concept attempts to expose the often overlooked and underrated elements of the African-Urban communal life which largely influence it. The alienated situation of the African in his own society becomes tragic. There is a struggle inside him, a consciousness of living with the complications of an imposed civilisation. He can no longer go back to pick up the fragments of his father's shattered culture; neither is he equipped enough to keep pace with the white-man's world.
In 2005 his work was exhibited in Africa Remix at London's Hayward Gallery
Hayward Gallery
The Hayward Gallery is an art gallery within the Southbank Centre, part of an area of major arts venues on the South Bank of the River Thames, in central London, England. It is sited adjacent to the other Southbank Centre buildings and also the Royal National Theatre and British Film Institute...
. He was also a resident at the Gasworks Gallery
Gasworks Gallery
Gasworks Gallery is based by the Oval Cricket Ground in South East London. It is part of Triangle Arts Trust, an international network or residencies and workshops offering artists the opportunity develop their practice stimulated by a climate of international exchange and dialogue...
while he prepared a piece for the Victoria and Albert Museum.
In 2010 he created Busy Street for the Herzliya Museum of Contemporary Art in Israel. The piece, which was made from local rubbish, was a reflection on Israel's consumer society.
External links
- The Junkyard Afrika, Dilomprizulike's official website
- Why Sculpture, Why Here Transcription of Dilomprizulike's talk at Tate Modern, 5 October 2007
- Around the world with Dilomprizulike, Molara Wood, February 13, 2010, in 234next
- ...Why artists must be far from the madding crowd – Junkman, Femi Macaulay, The Sun (Nigeria), April 26, 2006
- Dilomprizulike: Wear and Tear, Molara Wood, The Guardian (Nigeria), April 17, 2005