The Asele Institute
Asele Institute is the non-profit arm of the Professor Uche Okeke Legacy Limited (PUOLL), a family-holding company established by Uche Okeke's wife and four children to serve as a commercial vehicle for the propagation of the master artist's intellectual and artistic property.
Our two organisations work together under the united brand identity 'Uche Okeke Legacy' to promote Uche Okeke's vision, mission, genius, and futuristic approach. Together, we implement various projects that honour and expand upon the work of this remarkable artist and keep his legacy alive.
Choosing Asele: The Name and Origins
“The Asele Period is a research study of a major aspect of the creative works of Professor Uche Okeke. The artist, who is generally regarded as father of modern Nigerian art tradition, has made various giant strides in the creative development of the country. He is naturally endowed with skill and good knowledge of the traditional mythology, belief system and customs of his Igbo ethnic group in Nigeria.” - African Research Review Vol. 4(3a) July, 2010. Pp. 261-275
Asele is not a term coined by Uche Okeke; it is instead a direct reference to Asele, the Mythical Designer of his native Igbo People of Nigeria, from whom he gained much inspiration, reverence and understanding through.
Asele draws Her creative ability from the Earth Mother Ala, or Ana - the source of all creativity - and is “the finest designer in the Uli art idiom” (African Research Review Vol. 4(3a) July, 2010. Pp. 261-275). As the manifestation of the Earth Mother’s ethical and aesthetic consciousness, Asele holds qualities that carry through the work and life of Professor Uche Okeke and his legacy.
Uche Okeke’s Asele Period was a time of exploration into the philosophical and symbolic meaning behind the mythology and forms of the Igbo people. It was the catalyst for his versatile and intriguing body of work for which he explored the roots of the mythology, culture and forms of expression. This period culminated in a vast understanding and connection to his ancestral roots, and the Earth Mother through Asele – the spirit of design -, and her male counterpart, Budunka – the genius of design production.
The Purpose of the Asele Institute
We chose Asele to represent this arm of Professor Uche Okeke Legacy Limited (PUOLL) as She is the embodiment of all that he stood for and valued. This partnership is dedicated to preserving Uche Okeke's artistic legacy and ensuring that his contributions to the art world and to African culture are not forgotten. Through Asele Institute and PUOLL, we will work to advance the cause of art, education, and social justice, building a bright and abundant future for generations to come; in the Spirit of Asele and Uche Okeke himself.
“My drawings are symbolic. They are based upon primitive plastic art and especially upon old Nigerian sculptured pieces. I have tried to depict the haziness and traditional tales, which often confuse man and beast and mix up real life with the dream world and I have attempted to capture the spirit of the dim and distant past of which Ibo folktales are representative of…”
- Uche Okeke (1959:16)
