Hassan Aliyu's 40-Year Art Retrospective in Cambridge

Hassan Aliyu's retrospective exhibition titled "Epic Journeys" is currently being held at Wolfson College, Cambridge, UK, from May 5 to June 30. The exhibition celebrates 40 years of Aliyu's work, tracing his artistic practice influenced by migration, memory, and cultural identity.

Born in the UK in 1964 to Nigerian parents, Aliyu's early life was marked by the challenges of racial hostility and instability, particularly during the Nigerian Civil War in 1967. His artistic journey began at Ahmadu Bello University, where he graduated in 1986, receiving the Nigeria Art Council award for best final year student.

As an artist, he faced economic strains and adapted his practice to incorporate collage techniques using found materials, reflecting the socio-economic realities of his environment. Aliyu's work engages with themes of slavery, colonialism, and structural injustice, making significant contributions to contemporary art discourse.