Abstract

The artistic works of Bruce Onobrakpeya are derived significantly from the folklore and myths of his Urhobo people. The symbols used by the artist include masks, animal and human figure representations and plant forms. The artist employs these symbolic expressions to tell stories about the belief system of the Urhobo people as well as that of other cultures. Onobrakpeya utilizes different techniques for his artistic expressions. These efforts have been acclaimed in various publications and in several reviews of his numerous exhibitions across the globe. However, there seems to be a dearth of critical study of the value of the cultural aesthetics in his artworks. This paper, therefore, attempts to examine the aesthetic aspect of Onobrakpeya‘s works from the perspective of Urhobo culture. In doing this, the descriptive research method is employed. Among the findings is the ethno-significance of the objects from the localities used as motifs in his compositions that are simultaneously ornamental and symbolic. His application of bold textures to conceptualize human figures is a signifier of aesthetics in Urhobo cultural context. This informs the conclusion that the skillful manipulation of technique by Onobrakpeya and his invocation of local mythological subject matters are influencers of aesthetic judgment by the appreciatorsof his art works.