Artist bio

My yearnings for capturing human struggles and passion with paint began over 45 yrs ago. I paint to evoke critical thoughts on humanity and leadership in a world redolent with natural and man-made crises. I have christened my art, “The Emergency Room Art” because I believe that hope and leadership centered works of art are so exigent in our present time that a work of art that does not strive after these, today, could be deemed a waste of time. My artworks are mainly in oil. They carry fluid, recurring patterns that are considered abstracted derivatives of reality. Oftentimes, these patterns are seen to morph onto more recognizably realistic forms. Though, sometimes, I am not able to always achieve this, I shun overt abstractions and pure realism while embracing elements from both genres to enhance comprehension. I work mainly in oil colors because it is ductile, slow drying, and has the widest range of hues possible.  I presently mentor students in fine arts, drama, and photography in the University of Jos, and in designated workshops in West Africa.

Title

Light in the Tunnel

Medium/Genre

Painting

Artist Statement

In a world of atheism and self-centered world views, man often gets caught up in a cesspool of natural and self-made problems. Man gets lost in the dark, searching for light, in a world clothed with evil. In this oil painting titled, "Light in the Tunnel", I encounter man, in an atmosphere enveloped by fear and darkness, making an eerie search for solutions to the problems of life. Using the metaphor of light, and reminiscent of the twelve disciples, I create humanity in a queue, inside a dark tunnel that promises light. I encapsulate in light, the symbolism of hope and victory that often only come with the knowledge and revelation made possible by the entrance of truth, symbolized by light. In the course of this search, the beginnings are occasioned by anxieties and circumspection as may be observed in the last set of people. In many of the world’s religions, light signifies salvation from the darkness of sin. In Christianity, it signifies the awesome presence of God. In John 8:12, Jesus relates the title of light to himself while debating with the Jews and states: "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life". Jesus is seen again declaring Himself to be Light of the World in, John 9:5. During the miracle of Healing the Blind at Birth, He rightly says: "When I am in the world, I am the Light of the World".
While a tunnel is evocative of the dark evils and troubles of this world, light, as is portrayed in the distance, is symbolic of holiness, goodness, knowledge, wisdom, hope, and a way out of darkness and difficulties. To deny the presence of this light is to deny the ever-presence of the Christ, the healing solution to every human problem. The full armor of God, the breast plate of righteousness, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, are, in totality, a summation and derivative of the weapon of Light, the antidote for the spiritual forces of wickedness. This work, measuring, 60 inches (152.4 cm) by 84 inches (213.36), was done in oil on a stretched canvas. I work in oil colors because it is ductile, slow drying, and has the widest range of hues possible. As with several other of my works, I tried to shun overt abstractions and pure realism while embracing elements from both genres to enhance comprehension.

How it fits into contest

Light and darkness is an antithesis that has symbolic meaning and essential to understanding spiritual truths. The walk in the tunnel as may be seen in my artwork, while being expressive of Ephesians 6:10-20, is equally denotative of John 12:35 which says, "Walk while you have the light, before darkness over takes you. Whoever walks in the dark does not know where they are going". In theology, divine light, otherwise referred to as divine radiance, is an aspect of divine presence, or specifically an unknown and mysterious ability of angels or human beings to express themselves communicatively through spiritual means, rather than through physical capacities. This informs the reason why angels manifest themselves spiritually rather than physically considering that the struggles are not against flesh and blood. Spiritual battles are essentially battles between light and dark.

Credits

My wife, Madeline Omonigho Agoba. She is the one with whom I interrogate the concepts of light and dark as are carried in good and evil.

How to Purchase this Artwork

My submission, "Light in the Tunnel" can be purchased by anyone for the cost of $24,000. Any willing buyer can reach me through my email address, agoldennest@yahoo.com or my website, ernestagoba.net

Other Goods & Services Available from this Artist

I make only artworks in my site ernestagoba.net

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