By Claire Tunstall
Global Head of Art, Archives and Records Management, UARM
Average read time: 4 minutes
In one of our strong rooms there is an object that always captures attention of staff and visitors alike. It is a huge carved wooden screen made of 35 individual panels and measuring 4.5m x 4.0m. Part of the United Africa collection (UAC) GB1752.UAC/1/11/12/124. It is just one of hundreds of items held in this collection.
The work was commissioned in the late 1970s for the refurbishment of Unilever House in London when Unilever's subsidiary companies were invited to contribute new artworks to the scheme.
Erhabor Ogieva Emokpae (1934-1984) was the artist who created the work that represents origins of the United Africa Company. Emokpae was one of Nigeria's leading 20th Century artists who also worked for LINTAS, the advertising arm of Unilever during the 1960s.
Since 2020 UARM have been collaborating with Iain Jackson and his research team on a Leverhulme Trust funded Mercantile Architecture project. The research team have spent time immersed in the UAC archive and Iain was able to spend time drawing the screen in detail.
Seeing it in black and white, reflecting on the hand carved detail, inspired the animation.
UAC Screen Animation
This screen animation was inspired by the carved wooden screen created by Erhabor Ogieva Emokpae. Make sure your volume is turned up.
Some readers may remember the work or know more about Emokpae. If you would like to share your recollections do let us know by contacting archives@unilever.com.