The moments Okoye expresses
in her paintings range from "stories I'd heard…stories that touched,
fascinated and affected me...Unanswered questions....and relationships
as mundane as being the other woman." One story that stands out
in the body of works she submitted for this exhibition is the perennial
problem and relationship of wives and "the other woman."
The Other Woman lurks
in the background of many marriages. A shadowy figure often, many times
younger than the balding middle aged man who professes his love for
her. He declares his love and respect but does everything possible to
conceal her identity from family and friends. "No, I am not seeing
any woman!" He lies to his wife. "God is my witness; I do
not have another woman. What makes you think that I do," he fumes
in righteous indignation.
Yet hidden in the shadowy
background, away from the prying eyes of Mrs. wife and Mrs. wife's friends,
he enjoys the young succulent body oblivious that God is a witness to
the tryst. When he's sufficiently over his head, having promised heaven
and earth to the chick, the squeeze begins. It's time to deliver on
the promises. "When do we get married," she asks sweetly.
If he is to continue to get the sultry passionate embrace of his new
found love, he must get rid of madam, the Mrs. wife.
