Summary

Key ring made from ebony by Nickel Mundabi Ngadwa in his workshop in Douala, Cameroon, 2006-2009. In Douala, Nickel created and managed a workshop which trained underprivileged young people in painting, sculpting and furniture making. The workshop produced a number of small items such as key rings, jewellery, jewellery and animal statues.

Nickel was born in 1965 in the Democratic Republic of Congo and was a teacher and artist when he was forced to flee in 2000 and seek refuge in Cameroon with his family. They arrived in Australia as refugees in 2009 and settled in Shepparton in northern Victoria. Nickel continues as a practising artist, while also working separate jobs and producing items like this key ring for sale to support his family. He has exhibited his sculpture and paintings in a number of exhibitions. His artwork reflects both his traditional culture and the artistic influences of his grandfather, as well as more contemporary and abstract forms.

Physical Description

Ebony key ring mask with the metal key ring attached to the top of the mask. There is a single smooth ridge down the centre of the mask and it ends in a mouth at the bottom. There eyes are placed on either side of the ridge and are diagonally pointing downwards towards the central ridge.

Significance

This collection represents a body of work by Shepparton-based, Congolese artist Nickel Mundabi Ngadwa who arrived in Australia via the Refugee and Humanitarian Program in 2009. The selection includes items made by Nickel in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo where he grew up, was educated and taught art; Douala, Cameroon where he created and maintained an artist's workshop and also in Shepparton where he is re-establishing himself as an artist. Nickel's inspiration originated from his grandfather who was also an artist. Two masks created by his grandfather are also included in this selection to demonstrate the continuation of traditional mask making and also the transfer of artistic inspiration and skill between generations. The objects and accompanying narrative provide an insight into the experiences of an urban based refugee in Africa as well as the experiences of a recently arrived refugee, regional settlement in Victoria, the challenges of adapting to a new society and artistic practice translated into a new environment.

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