A CRITICAL HERMENEUTICAL READING OF BONIFACE OKAFOR

Abstract

A critical and hermeneutical analysis of an artist seeks to establish the interpretation and understanding of his works assessed within the historical, social, political and cultural ideologies in which he produced them. Boniface Okafor was a major artist in Nigeria who has not been given a critical historical account in the Nigerian art scene. He elicited so much which has not been well rivaled in recent times. The multifaceted character and complexity of understanding and interpretation of images will lead to the development of various methodological approaches (Adams, 2001). A hermeneutic study of Boniface Okafor’s paintings emphasizes “understanding and interpretation” to reveal the multisensory components of his experiences (Hocking, 2019). His lived experiences and historical events in his life reflect the spiritual, mystical, social, political and philosophical themes, content and concepts, that make his paintings unique and deeply engaging. His contemporary views helped him produced artworks with social significance in the struggle against poverty, wars, corruption, religious bigotry, etc. A hermeneutical study of Boniface Okafor is important because it is the basis of all knowledge pertaining to his artistic contributions of achievements. His biographical outlook historically places him in the context of the world around him. The reviews of the 1966 Nigerian Civil War, the Bigard Memorial Seminary training to become a priest, his academic art training and his relationship with Rosicrucianism, present historical records of how the artist felt in particular places and time.