Peter Uka
Playing with the grove, 2025
Oil on canvas
74 3/4 x 94 1/2 in
190 x 240 cm
190 x 240 cm
Copyright the Artist
This vibrant dancefloor scene pulses with movement, light, and joy—a collective expression of rhythm and release. At the center, a woman wears her hair in an intricate African threading style,...
This vibrant dancefloor scene pulses with movement, light, and joy—a collective expression of rhythm and release. At the center, a woman wears her hair in an intricate African threading style, a traditional technique in which sections of hair are wrapped tightly with black thread to create sculptural forms. Common across Nigeria and other parts of West Africa, the style functions both as adornment and cultural archive—carrying ancestral knowledge, artistry, and care. Around her, flared pants, platform shoes, and glowing gestures animate the space with disco-era flair. Peter Uka captures not only the energy of a shared moment, but the tactile histories embedded in it: global fashion refracted through local forms, memory shaped through movement, and joy passed between generations.