Mishko Papic Papa
Mishko Papic Papa

My Bond with the Masters of Benin

Mishko Papic Papa's Benin Kingdom Watercolours grew from years of close study at the British Museum, where he sat before the original commemorative plaques and heads cast by Edo guild artists from the 15th to the 19th centuries.

Working slowly at 1:1 scale, he set out not to copy these objects but to experience them—from the opaque weight of brass into the transparent, accumulated light of watercolour.

Each painting required weeks to complete. Using delicate washes, he built up surface, shadow, and patina until the paper itself seemed to carry the density of metal. Beaded crowns, ceremonial garments, and the precise relief of each face were rendered with the same concentration the original makers brought to wax and fire.

The series comprises dozens of works, each one a separate encounter with an individual plaque. Selected for the annual exhibitions of the Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours (RI) and the Royal Watercolour Society (RWS), it has been shown in London and at the Afro Festival at MAU in Belgrade.

Yet the true measure of the work lies beyond any institutional credential: it is an acknowledgment of artistic debt. These paintings honour the Edo artisans by keeping their vision alive outside the museum space, returning it to the world as a living, light-filled archive.

Most of the Benin Kingdom paintings are now in private collections.

Further Reading & Related Institutions

The British Museum (London, UK)

Home to one of the most comprehensive holdings of West African art in the world, the British Museum’s collection of Benin brass reliefs and ivory carvings served as the direct setting and "studio" for this watercolor series. Studying these masterworks in situ allowed for a slow, meticulous observation of their patinas, relief details, and centuries-old craftsmanship.

Link: The British Museum – Africa Collection

The Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York, USA)

The Met’s Michael C. Rockefeller Wing houses an extraordinary selection of royal court art from the Kingdom of Benin, including iconic commemorative heads and court regalia. Their open-access research and high-resolution archives provide vital context for understanding the spiritual and ceremonial roles these artifacts played within the royal court of the Oba.

Link: The Met – Arts of Africa

Digital Benin (International Digital Platform)

Digital Benin is a landmark international project that brings together dispersed royal artworks from the Kingdom of Benin across institutions worldwide into a single digital platform. It connects historical artifacts with Edo language terminology, oral traditions, and provenance documentation, making it an essential resource for modern art historical study.

Link: Digital Benin Hub

Museum of African Art / Muzej afričke umetnosti (Belgrade, Serbia)

As the primary institution in the Western Balkans dedicated exclusively to the arts and cultures of Africa, MAU serves as a crucial local partner for dialogue, education, and cultural appreciation. Its permanent collection and ongoing programming offer an important regional lens for understanding African heritage in Europe.

Link: Museum of African Art Belgrade

Ethnologisches Museum (Berlin, Germany)

The Ethnologisches Museum in Berlin holds one of the largest collections of historical Benin bronzes in continental Europe. Today, the museum is at the forefront of international discussions on provenance research, restitution, and collaborative curatorial practice with Nigerian cultural authorities.

Link: Humboldt Forum – Ethnologisches Museum

Horniman Museum and Gardens (London, UK)

A pioneering London institution in the contemporary dialogue surrounding the Benin Bronzes. The Horniman recently made headlines by formally transferring ownership of its collection of Benin objects back to Nigeria.

This museum represents the evolving, living history of the artworks that inspired this series.

Link: Horniman Museum

The Scheherazade Foundation

Learning Through Stories

At The Scheherazade Foundation we work with governments and leading non-governmental organisations all over the world to harness ancient wisdom locked in humanity’s accumulated folklore and literature.

Link: The Scheherazade Foundation

Smithsonian National Museum of African Art (Washington, D.C.)

The National Museum of African Art worked with the Nigerian National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM) and the Benin City National Museum to identify, and ultimately transfer, ownership of 29 objects. With permission from the kingdom of Benin, nine of these objects are now on long-term loan to the museum; the other 20 have been returned to Nigeria.

Link: Smithsonian National Museum of African Art

The Musée du quai Branly - Jacques Chirac in Paris

The Musée du quai Branly holds a notable assembly of West African art, including works originating from the Kingdom of Benin. The institution has been directly involved in the ongoing restitution process, most notably formalizing the transfer of ownership of royal treasures to the Republic of Benin as part of a broader reevaluation of colonial-era acquisitions. You can read about their restitution efforts and collection context

Link: The Musée du quai Branly

See available Art

Mishko Papic Papa

View other platforms & keep in touch