BY TAJUDEEN SOWOLE
DEVOID of the
presence of big names in the art circuit, Segun Adesanya’s maiden show lived up
to expectation with the turnout.
Held from April 13 to 21, the elated
artist also opened a series of works at Mydrim Art Gallery that would
facilitate young and up coming artists who dread the high cost of staging their
debut show to do so. The Gallery is creating space in its calendar to showcase
fresh artists.
While taking
his guests through the 24 works mounted in the ground floor of the gallery, Adesanya
showed how his work is evolving from an innocent rendition into a more
challenging one.
From common themes such as the defunct
chaotic scene of Oshodi and residential huts built on stilts on the bank of
Lagos lagoon as well as landscapes, to more thought provoking issues, young
Adesanya’s brush skillfully strokes in the effects of naturalism.
Cockfight
could be very exciting, particularly for younger people. This, perhaps, is the attraction
for Adesanya in bringing two cocks face to face in a ready to fight action. Titled
Politics, he says, the work is not
about the common excitement we get watching cockfight, but on general issues of
the society.
He notes,
“the kind of politics you hear people in government play is worrisome,
particularly for my generation.”
Adesanya
laments that the inconsistence in government offers no hope, because some
people in government play dirty politics to the detriment of many Nigerians.
Politics, oil on canvas by Adesanya |
Fighting dirty
as seen from the perspective of the young artist appears to have the hero and
the villain, so suggests the white and dark feathered depiction of the two
cocks.
Dated 2010, Adesanya’s Oshodi, The Way It Was revisits the
highway-turned market and bus stations as it was three years before the
painting. Why did it take the artist so long to paint Oshodi? “I learnt more
than one reference was collected, over a period of time, after the
rehabilitation of Oshodi,” he discloses. And this, he says led to a little
modification of the painting, giving it my impression.
The
portrait of horse is not a bad idea, it depicts the importance of horse in the
socio-economic development of man, says Adesanya.
Not exactly
new in art shows, as this has been part of the works featured in over 10 shows
since 2007. However, he notes, “it is a step forward for me.”
FOR the gallery, “it’s in pursuance of our vision of
discovering and promoting talented young artists,” Sinmidele Ogunsanya of
Mydrim states. She discloses that the gallery has planned a series of salons
featuring the works of innovative new comers. Adesanya’s salon is the first of
the series. He is a young realist painter whose works are reminiscent of the
Yaba School.”
Segun Adesanya |
Promoting
young artists has been in the character of Mydrim, but not at the scale
Ogunsanya is pushing. For example, the yearly show
of pastel artists always featured some of these young artists. The
11th Pastel Yearly Show, held from last December to January, had Bede Umeh
joined the regulars such as Abass Kelani, Ade Odunfa, Ajibade Awoyemi,
Chidinma Ochu, Emmanuel Dudu, Jonathan Jefferson, Joseph Ayelero, Kolawole
Olojo-Kosoko, Kehinde Osho, Moses Oghagbon, Osagie Aimufia, Samuel Ajobiewe and
Stanley Dudu.
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