Ken Nwadiogbu
Nigerian, b. 1994
The Value of Nothing
2018
Charcoal, Paper
Nigeria
Moniker International Art Fair, Brooklyn, NY
Ken Nwadiogbu’s The Value of Nothing layers newspaper text with a drawing of the face asks viewers to think about how they value themselves based on their monetary worth. As a self-taught artist, Nwadiogbu saw this happening to other artists within Nigeria. These artists are often lacking financial support from their profession. Dignity, self-worth, and other words surround the portrait shaped into a currency sign. Nwadiogbu wants his audience to be aware of this relationship between sense of self and material wealth that is prevalent in Nigeria, and to work to break that relationship. However, it is important to look at how this thinking may negatively affect mental perceptions of the self. Nwadiogbu’s goal is for viewers to seek change, free themselves of basing their worth on material gains, and boost self-esteem.
Tyrese Duncan-Moore ’22
Bibliography
Hamad, R., L C H Fernald, D S Karlan, and J. Zinman. “Social and Economic Correlates of Depressive Symptoms and Perceived Stress in South African Adults.” Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health (1979-) 62, no. 6 (2008): 538-44. http://www.jstor.org/stable/40665595.
Research that seeks to find links between social and economic conditions to the increased rate of mental illness reported within South Africa.
Eshak, E. S., N. N. Kamal, and A. E. Seedhom. 2018. Work-family conflict and self-rated health among dwellers in minia, egypt: Financial strain vs social support. Public Health 157 : 69-76.
A study focused within Egypt looking at the relation between financial stress and perceived mental health.
Khamisa, Natasha, Brian Oldenburg, Karl Peltzer, and Dragan Ilic. “Work Related Stress, Burnout, Job Satisfaction and General Health of Nurses.” International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 12, no. 1 (01, 2015): 652-666. https://login.ezproxy.bowdoin.edu/login?url=https://search.proquest.com/docview/1652348368?accountid=9681.
Study which focuses on nurses’ stress from their work and its correlation towards their health.
“Featured Artist Ken Nwadiogbu | Artsy Shark | Inspiring Artists to Build Better Businesses.” Artsy Shark. January 31, 2019. Accessed May 12, 2019. https://www.artsyshark.com/2019/01/31/featured-artist-ken-nwadiogbu/.
An overview of an interview of Ken Nwadiogbu of his work, his passions, and the start of his career as an artist.
