The Use of ‘Readymade Food Vessels’ in Exploration of Metaphorical Sculptures that portray Hunger in Nigeria

Abstract

This study discusses readymade food vessels materials in the creation of metaphorical sculptures. The sculptures were explored using art based research methodology that involves theory and practice. It resulted in the creation of eighteen metaphorical sculptures of which five are discussed in this paper. The sculptures explored as metaphorical sculpture forms interrogate hunger phenomenon in Nigeria using discarded readymade food vessels materials that are found in the environment. The study contests that rejection of forms in sculpture by conceptual artists should be considered, it is because of this that metaphorical sculptures created emphasise idea and form. It also contest that art should not be created for perception only. The study in exploring ‘readymade food vessels’ to create metaphorical sculptures holds that idea and form have to be present as visual thinking in order to give new insight to the viewer about hunger phenomenon in Nigeria. The paper concludes that using readymade food vessels materials goes beyond everyday function they create sculptures that give new insight to knowledge of hunger phenomenon in Nigeria.

Keywords: ‘Readymade food vessels’, exploration, metaphorical sculpture, idea, form, hunger