Collage as a Sustainable Environmental Practice - Centred on Nigerian Female Avant-Garde Artist Osague

This paper discusses recycling of “off-cut” fabrics as materials for mixed-media collage-making activities centred on Osague Osagiede Paulina; the Nigerian Female avant-garde artist. With the aid of the internet, journals, books and others, the collage activities of some female artists - Sienna Martz, Kara Williams, Wangechi Mutu and, Njideka Akunyili Crosby - were studied to point out some related patterns, similarities of concept and materiality to Osague’s. For the purpose of this study, the Judgemental sampling technique was used in selecting sixteen (16) mixed-media collages from Osague’s oeuvres. Those selected were analysed revealing some of the philosophy and passion underpinnings her creating collages based on her childhood memories. The descriptive/narrative readings of the (16) collages - as visual-data - was achieved with the following themes - playful times; alone and together and, so on. In conclusion, this paper is of the view that Osague’s collages are significant contributions in narration of the “story” of a resolute artist who, being female, faces a number of challenges masked in social-constraints; of identity; emotional abuses; depravity and others. This paper recommends the collage-making approaches of this artist should be adopted by knowledge seekers in art and design as a resource material in teaching, learning and research in sustainable environmental practices.