St. Paul’s Cathedral, London on Thursday unveiled the new artwork Still Standing by Nigerian-born artist Victor Ehikhamenor on display in the crypt from February 17 to May 14, 2022.
The artwork has been commissioned and curated by Dan Hicks, professor of contemporary archaeology at University of Oxford and curator at the Pitt Rivers Museum; and Simon Carter, head of collections at St Paul’s Cathedral.
The installation responds to a brass memorial panel to Admiral Sir Harry Rawson (1843-1910) installed in the Nelson Chamber of the Cathedral’s Crypt in 1913. As the panel notes, Rawson had a long career in the Royal Navy, which culminated in his commanding the Benin Expedition of 1897, 125 years ago.
Still Standing forms part of 50 Monuments in 50 Voices, a partnership to invite contemporary artists, poets, musicians, theologians, performers and academics to showcase their individual responses to 50 historic monuments across the cathedral.
50 Monuments in 50 Voices launched on December 1, 2021 to present a weekly series of audio, visual and musical works responding to the cathedral’s monuments from 1796 to 1916.
Speaking on the development, Ehikhamenor said, “History never sleeps nor slumbers. For me to be responding to the memorial brass of Admiral Sir Harry Holdsworth Rawson who led British troops in the sacking of the Benin Kingdom 125 years ago is a testament to this.
“The installation Still Standing was inspired by the resolute Oba Ovonramwen who was the reigning king of Benin Kingdom at the time of the expedition, but the artwork also memorialises the citizens and unknown gallant Benin soldiers who lost their lives in 1897 as well as the vibrant continuity of the kingdom till this day. I hope that we, the descendants of innumerable uncomfortable thorny pasts, will begin to have meaningful and balanced conversations through projects such as 50 Monuments in 50 Voices.”
Specially commissioned for this installation at St Paul’s, with support from Art Fund, Still Standing will find a permanent home at the University of Oxford’s Pitt Rivers Museum, which holds one of the most significant collections of Benin royal artworks.
Based in Lagos, Nigeria, and Maryland, USA, Ehikhamenor is renowned for his broad practice comprising painting, sculpture, photography, and unique works on paper. His richly-patterned works use symbolism from both traditional Edo religion and Catholicism, reflecting on the confluence of African and Western cultures. Still Standing combines rosary beads and Benin bronze hip ornament masks to depict an Oba (king) of Benin.
