ARTIST STATEMENT
"I feel like people see fat people, especially women, as off-balance, off shape, off modern, or what society call ‘beautiful’. Everybody is beautiful in their own way: whether big, small, tall, fat, slim, short; any way you see yourself, you are beautiful. This beauty is what I portray in this body of work.
Big size women are my fantastic models, and I want everybody to appreciate them. Size Matters is my way of expressing this; a privilege to acknowledge the strength of women; to appreciate their beauty and their natural endowment. And painting nude and fat figures for this exhibition was an exciting experience for me. The inspiration for the theme came from a series of works I did some years back: Modern Models.
Aside from this, my work has endless experiences and expressions; the more you look at it, the more you want to dig into it, the more you begin to ask yourself: what, why, when or how? I have been able to manipulate this subject properly to the best of my ability because the works are not erotic. I hope those coming to view them will see the beauty in the works and not nudity. I hope they will see the embedded messages, appreciate the works, as well as get inspired."
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Prince OrluAfoma Nne-oha, 2022Oil on canvas48 x 48 in
122 x 122 cmPrince Orlu, Afoma Nne-oha, 2022$ 6,700.00 -
Prince OrluGreen day, 2022Oil on Canvas48 x 48 in
122 x 122 cmPrince Orlu, Green day, 2022$ 6,700.00 -
Prince OrluLove and betrayer, 2022Oil on canvas35 7/8 x 59 7/8 in
91 x 152 cmPrince Orlu, Love and betrayer, 2022$ 7,000.00 -
Prince OrluSelf estimation, 2022Oil on Canvas48 x 48 in
122 x 122 cmPrince Orlu, Self estimation, 2022$ 6,700.00
Ozangeobuoma Prince Orlu (b. ) is a contemporary Nigerian artist born and raised in Enugu State, an indigene of Isiokpo, Ikwerre Local Government, Rivers State. He attended the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Fine and Applied Arts from 2010 to 2015.
Orlu is a versatile artist with an extensive composition, which cut across diverse themes. In 2017, after participating in a group show titled First Page Three Chapters, his style of painting and subject changed drastically. In 2018, he came out with even a bolder style in a group exhibition titled The Future is Now, where he introduced fat figures in his painting.
Today, painting fat subjects have become dominant in his works; a source of inspiration to him, and sometimes he uses himself as a reference. “I enjoy those forms in I see when I study the big size men and women.” His composition and use of colours have also evolved. Painting nude figures has become his favourite theme of expression. He is now audacious, expressive and explorative with his work, which are elusive, paradoxical and carefully balanced between representation and abstraction, and thought-provoking titles such as Morden Maidens, Size Matters, the Future Beckons, Lost in Thought, Spare the Rod.
He paints with warm and cool colours, but sometimes with dark colours. He paints mainly with oil and acrylic paint as his choice of media.
Everything around his nativity and happenings in society inspires him. “It affects my style of painting, colours, drawings and more.” His philosophy of art and life is to create an appreciation of continuous and spontaneous works in the same way that expresses his inner self, create social emancipation.
He had his early informal training with Kpodoh Michael, a Port Harcourt, Rivers State based artist, before going to the higher institution to study art. He did his internship under renowned painter, Duke Asidere, who greatly influenced him.
Orlu has participated in several group exhibitions, seminars, workshops and art competitions, with an outstanding performance. He is a member of the Society of Nigerian Artists (SNA), Rivers State Chapter, and the Pan African Circle of Artists (PACA). He lives and works as a full-time studio artist in Lagos, Nigeria.