It took a lecture, delivered by African art
scholar, Prof. Perkin Foss during one of the Harmattan Workshops at Agbar Otto,
Delta State, for young sculptor, Phillips
Lexie Nzekwe Okai to be alerted on the possibility of the extinction of his
mother tongue.
Bringing that experience to bear on his work, Okai decided to strengthen
African values and culture as he showcases sculptures and few paintings in his
debut solo exhibition titled ‘Perspective’, at Quintessence
Gallery Falomo, Lagos. The show opens tomorrow and runs till June 30, 2012.
The curator of
Quintessence Gallery, Moses Ohiomokhare stated
that the artist’s desire to
advance the creation and understanding of
sculpture and its unique contribution to society is central to the exhibition.
He noted that Okai has produced an “array of sculptural pieces that represent
the passion, love, agitation, outburst and agonies of our people. His works are
semi-abstract of the human figures, landscapes, and animals. In these you find
a lot of intellectual pondering thrown into the works. You also see the desire
to expand our understanding and appreciate the subject matter even as the
artist draws his energy from a supportive environment. The works are in two and
three dimensions in wood and mixed media.”
For better understanding of the themes, Okai has segmented the show into three parts such as In The Pageant series, The Mood and The Re-Enactment. He disclosed that “In The Pageant I and II
are rites and festivals in exaggerated forms, which inform us about our way of
life in the past and present; The Mood
forms represent the economic woes the nation currently being faces; and The Re-Enactment Series pursues the need
for us to reconstruct our world. In all his works, you cannot fail to recognise
his signature forms.
Ohiomokhare explained that the concave forms in his works are an
expression of the past, the convex represents the present and the void or
hollow represents the future, which is expressive of time to come and the
likelihood of future success.
He recalled how Quintessence had followed the artist’s steady progress
since his participation in a group exhibition by doctoral students of Delta
State University (DELSU), Abraka Group of Artists at Quintessence last year. “We
have observed that his art continues to document “the constant movement and
expressions of humanity in his environment”, in his attempt to offer solutions
to the problems of society.”
Currently the chief resident sculptor of Akademik Studios of Arts in
Asaba, Okai is doing a doctorate programme in Studio (sculpture) at
Delta State University, Abraka. He derives his influence from one of the
world’s most celebrated English sculptors, Henry Spencer Moore, who was best
known for his semi-abstract monumental bronze sculptures. Henry said in one of
his quotes that “the creative habit is like a drug. The particular obsession
changes, but the excitement, the thrill of your creation lasts.”
Okai’s well-organised forms appeal to
your faculty of sight, imagination and emotions and art critics and admirers of
art will find out that a great sculptor is indeed emerging in our continent.
The gallery is excited about his works and “trust that our appreciation
of sculpture will increase. We must recognise that sculpture is one of the
greatest contributions of visual art Nigerians have offered the world”.
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