“Most people look at art, but very few truly see it.”- Duke Asidere In a conversation with Duke Asidere, a simple but powerful idea emerges: seeing requires more than a glance. It requires patience, attention, and intention. What’s the Difference Between Looking and Seeing? Looking is immediate. It captures the obvious: the colours, shapes, and subject. Seeing goes
Much of Duke Asidere’s practice is rooted in an enduring exploration of feminine strength, shaped by the presence of a formidable mother who instilled in him a deep respect for the power of womanhood. This influence recurs throughout his work, and The Queen Is a Dictator stands as a distilled expression of that theme. Here,
“A Beautiful Life” combines charcoal and gouache, an offers an intimate glimpse into the artist’s thoughts and experiences. Evolving from his earlier kinetic and impatient sketches, this artwork retains Asidere’s signature energy but introduces a more nuanced exploration of people, events, and his surroundings. The female figure—a recurring motif in Asidere’s work—appears here with a
Ogwuashi-Uku July 24, 2004 Duke Asidere’s bags are packed. Everything he needs is in his Nissan Micra car. It’s a tiny, brown car, slightly beat-up but reliable. He gets in, turns on the ignition and begins his journey to Ogwuashi-Uku. He’d just agreed to take a teaching position in the art department of Delta State
There’s a teenage boy at the airport. He looks defiant, resentful, a little angry. But lurking somewhere, there’s also love and hope. His father might see these emotions or maybe not. He might just sense the anger. It might compound his own anger and despair. He might feel powerless, frustrated. They look through each other,