Taiye Idahor’s body of work is a reflection on women and power through the iconic figure of the Iyoba, mother of the king of Benin City. The Iyoba’s beaded regalia has become a symbolic representation of women’s authority, with its aesthetic casually evoked by many modern brides in Nigeria, often using inexpensive plastic beads instead of real coral. These collages highlight the voids created by the absence of women in genuine positions of power, and the uncertainty felt by women who must define themselves among all of the conflicting expectations, demands, and disempowering realities of society.
Taiye Idahor’s work explores themes which are simultaneously universal and intimate, expressing female and African identity within the broader contexts of history, tradition and globalisation. The artist has shown in numerous group exhibitions across Europe, the Americas and Africa, and her first UK solo exhibition was mounted this year at Tyburn Gallery. Her work is part of the collection of the Zeitz MOCAA, Cape Town.