With over two decades of carving and sculpting, the late contemporary artist Reuben Ugbine explored the human body, using wood, terracotta, and metal railings. He was as dexterous in his manifestation and translation of human experiences in his sculptures as he was a master storyteller.
Reuben Ugbine (1956 – 2021) was a leading Post-War and contemporary sculptor who lived and worked in Benin. He attended Auchi Polytechnic in 1976, where he received an Ordinary National Diploma and the Principal’s prize for the overall best student. In 1979, he received his Higher National Diploma in sculpture from Yaba College of Technology. He went on to work as an instructor and a lecturer at Auchi Polytechnic before becoming a full-time studio artist in 1987. This began his career of designing and executing several carvings, terracottas, sculptural figures, metal railings, and other artworks for private commissions. In his lifetime, his works were presented in solo and group shows across Africa and internationally in; Lebanon, Spain, Germany, and The Netherlands.
Throughout his studio practice, Ugbine mastered the art of exploring spirituality, movement, and fluidity, reminiscent of African folktales and folklores. His use of materiality, which ranged from wood, especially from the iroko tree, teak, terracotta, and metal railings and scale responds to socio-political systems and foregrounds the intrinsic value of everyday experiences in the nation.
At the core of his sculptural practice was identity which allowed him to thoroughly examine the possibilities of identity and the human body. Over time, the evolution of his intricate woodcarvings and sculpting techniques draws attention to the nuances of the multiple lives and conditioned behaviors of people, and how we collectively occupy space in culture.
Recently, in the second posthumous solo exhibition presented by O’DA Gallery, the curator writes about Ugbine’s sculptures:
“In pieces like “Dancing Figure” and “Acrobat,” we see the physical manifestation of dance, physical activity & “fun” characterized through the curves and exaggerated limbs of the figures. The volatile energy that permeates his works creates a compelling and almost responsive experience by giving insight to human nature and how we all carry similar histories.”
Iyanuoluwa Adenle is a Nigerian art writer, essayist, and poet based in Lagos. She is currently the head writer at Omenai. Adenle has contributed to a number of art publications, including Tender Photo, Art News Africa, Pavillon 54, and Omenai.
