WURA-NATASHA OGUNJI | WILL I CARRY WATER WHEN I AM A DEAD WOMAN
“ Performance is central to the narratives and forms of my work. As such, I use my body to understand and experience acts of return and recollection….My work explores the deep knowledge of the body—both ancestral and cellular—and works to access and make visual the gestures, memories and histories therein.” ~ WURA-NATASHA OGUNJI
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Ogunji’s contribution to the 'A World in Common - Contemporary African
Photography' exhibition showcases masked women in Yaba, Lagos, walking in a zombie-like manner through the streets while dragging kegs of water that are strapped to their ankles or wrists.
The women, dressed in ‘egungun’ masquerade-style clothing silently make their way across the town in slow, zombie-like movements, a powerful silence espousing the stark contrast of their appearance to the hustle and bustle of the busy city streets. It's interesting to see how the public reacts to these women they regard as anomalies. What makes it authentic is the onlookers being coincidental, their genuine raw reactions validate the feelings of confusion that might surface within the audience while viewing the performance.
The plangent groan of the water kegs being dragged as the only isolated sound makes the piece have an almost mournful atmosphere. The women being masked suggests they are dead, almost like empty souls and further intensifies feelings of desolation but they are physically alive and their exaggerated movements remind me of that. It has an otherworldly atmosphere and is contradictory in an intriguing manner. They remind me of spirits moving through to the afterlife, especially after considering the title and context of this piece. I was entranced by their movements as I noticed a lot of audience members also were.
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Their ‘egungun’ masquerade-style outfits are created using typical African fabrics, allowing them to blend in with the surroundings. I find it interesting that they are wearing jumpsuits, which may be for ease of movement. However, it also reminds me of prison jumpsuits, given that they are essentially "detained" by the weight of the water kegs they are carrying. The kegs are attached to various parts of their bodies as personal burdens, creating ‘individual struggles’ for each person and making it universally relatable to a wide audience
Overall, I believe that this performance is an excellent addition to the Tate Modern exhibition, and it is a must-see for anyone who appreciates art that challenges traditional boundaries. The piece is both haunting and beautiful, and it left a lasting impression on me.
It is showing till the 24th of January 2024 if you would like to see it!
