The Moon Has Ascended Between Us
- Artist: Obiora Udechukwu
- Date: 1976
- Medium: Oil paint on hardboard
- Dimensions: support: 1219 × 616 mm
- Museum: Tate Modern
- Collection record: Tate Modern website
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About this artwork
This is the "The Moon Has Ascended Between Us" by Obiora Udechukwu. Created in 1976, the work is an oil on hardboard that captures the spirit of Nigerian modernism. Udechukwu was part of the cohort of artists from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, where the traditional Igbo uli motifs were re‑introduced into contemporary art after independence. In this piece you can see the rhythmic, linear patterns that echo everyday Igbo life – cooking pots, tools, the sun, the moon, birds and plants – all rendered with a modernist clarity. The title itself hints at the celestial motif, suggesting a dialogue between the familiar and the transcendent. Udechukwu’s style blends the decorative with the conceptual, turning cultural symbols into a visual language that speaks both locally and globally. It’s a testament to how post‑colonial artists reclaimed their heritage while engaging with the broader currents of modern art.
See it in person
The Moon Has Ascended Between Us is in the collection of Tate Modern on Bankside, London — free to enter. Point your phone at any artwork there and audioguide.london plays a free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
