© Impact Journals FROM GLOBAL TO LOCAL: FEMINISM AND FEMINIST NUDITY FROM VISUAL PERCEPTIONS AND CONCEPTIONS OF ARTISTS

This study examined the extent to which visual elements have aided the development of feminism and feminist art, and investigated how nude body of female gender is portrayed in artistic productions. Also, it identified major Nigerian women activists such as Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, Margaret Ekpo, Laila Dogonyaro and Bolanle Awe and mentioned various strategies they adopted in achieving their social, political and cultural objectives. The study examined artworks produced by Nigerian artists, which are characterized essentially by feminists ’ innovations, feminists ’ protests, and power of womanhood and societal perception of public breastfeeding. Bruce Onobrakpeya stands out in this direction in view of his analyses of Nigeria’s socio-political problems through his innovative and creative portrayal of Niger Delta women protesting in nude to fight the government against the degradation of their cultural environment. The study revealed that this effort is not peculiar to Onobrakpeya, but the deprivation of women in socio-political activities and protests against inequality of gender species which emanated from feminism and its struggles world-wide have also been demonstrated in the artworks of other Nigerian artists precisely Sokari Douglas-Camp, Kaltume Gana, Lilian Pilaku, Peju Layiwola, Tola Wewe, Muri Adejimi and Femi Akande. This protest art tradition has become a significant device in that it grants visual artists the freedom to fight for human rights creatively