GODS AMONG US
by Aluu Prosper Chigozie
Date: 2024
Size: 48”x 48”
Media: mixed media
CH: Describe the origin story (what inspired you, what story did you want to tell, how the piece came together, etc.) for Gods Among Us.
APC: Gods Among Us was inspired by my experience of a Zangbeto ceremony during my residency at Villa Karo, Benin. Zangbeto, the “guardians of the night,” are towering raffia-clad figures in Vodun culture, believed to be inhabited by ancestral spirits. Their role is to protect communities and drive away evil. Through Abfillage, I layered photography and magazine collage to capture their mystery and presence—blurring the line between seen and unseen, and honoring the enduring spiritual guardianship woven into everyday life.
CH: What is your favorite tool to make art with?
APC: My Favourite tool to make art with is a pen. I use it for quick sketches and drawings. It helps me express myself as quick as possible. But the paint and paintbrushes makes it more detailed.
CH: What creative project are you working on right now? (does not have to be art related!)
APC: I am working on several projects simultaneously. But one of them is a project aimed at supporting education of children and youths.
Aluu Prosper Chigozie is a contemporary Nigerian artist known for developing Abfillage, a unique technique that merges abstraction, figuration, and collage. His work explores layered narratives of identity, memory, and culture, using materials like newspapers and photography to preserve overlooked histories. Prosper’s pieces have been showcased in solo and group exhibitions across Nigeria and internationally, revealing a deep engagement with the shifting landscapes of personal and collective experience.