By
Tajudeen Sowole
The artists’ common platform, surprisingly is
a representation by one of the new art outlets, Alexis Galleries, Victoria Island,
Lagos. The artists, Tyna Adebowale, Darlington Chukwumwzie, Henry Akhile, Raji
Mohammed and Yemi Uthman are among a new generation
of Nigerian artists who, recently, are being represented by Lagos-based art
galleries. Recall that artists’ representation in the Nigerian art circle has
been mystified as a complex terrain that galleries always avoid.
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One of the works, Sisters, by Adeyemi Uthman, showing in Fate at Alexis Galleries |
For Alexis and the five artists, a group art
exhibition titled Fate, which opens
tomorrow at the gallery, ending November 22, 2014 is a starting point. Artist
and co-curator at Alexis Galleries, George Edozie disclosed that the artists
are not just being represented in Nigeria, the target “is to also show them
abroad.” Patti Chidiac, the curator explained the significance of the
exhibition, stating, “Fate has
brought the artists together in their search for success.”
Adebowale,
whose technique looks like pointillism focuses on themes that are mainly gender
based. In one of the works titled Ritual,
the artist, makes a realism capture of a woman in makeover and dressing up
exercise that say so much about her interest in the theme. For example, the
highlighting the importance of the accessories such as necklace in a loud
colour sharply contrasts the moonlighting blue tone of the body.
“The female body is a major influence in my art, touching
issues of identity, beauty, gender, sexuality,” stated Adebowle, a graduate of Painting, Auchi Polytechnic, Auchi, Edo
State.
Chukwumwzie, a self-thought artist prided his skill in what he described
as “a true heart for abstraction, impressionism, graffiti, installation,
recycle art and cubism.” But for the Fate
gathering, the artist’s works are paintings, some of which are rendered in
resplendence of colour mixes. Such works include My Art My Tools, a depiction of studio tools and The other side of Midnight, a deadly
night scene.
For Uthman who studied Fine and Applied Art
at The Institute of Art and Design (ITTAD), Lagos and graduated in 1998, he has
over one decade of experience to rely on. This much shows in his choice of
theme, focusing the riverside habitation in Lagos.
The theme of the exhibition, he said, reminds
him of the people who live at the bank of the rivers in Lagos. “The theme Fate applies to the subject of my works,
which is about people living on water.” Uthman disclosed that he has been very
close to some of the people who are “either friends or relations.” Some of his
works such as Ebute, Leyin Ise Ojoo and Live and Bred on Water indeed expose an artist whose palette has
matured and ready for the masterly journey.
With rendition in impressionism in works such
as Pathway, Bus Stop Series and Fatima,
among others, Akhile expresses his passion for what he
described as “influenced by the ever changing landscape of the developing
topography of my Nigerian urban/cultural environment and scene.” The artist who
grew up in Auchi and got inspiration from the town’s sea of rustic rooftops
explained how he was wowed when he came to Lagos. “I came to Lagos in 2007 and
got more art inspiration from the old Oshodi scene of bus stops before Governor
Fashola cleared the roads.”
And as contemporary art keeps changing the
face of creating art, Akhile appears more consistent aligning with the
nineteenth century art movement. “Evolving from the style and textures of the
impressionists movement, I have been able to create and achieve my own
trend and style of painting, using such medium as acrylic or oil paints on
canvas.”
Mohammed is the only portrait artist in
the Fate gathering as he renders portraitures, mostly of young adults and kids.
Whoever is a fanof painter, Ebenezer of Akinola’s texture of the canvas may
just like Mohammed’s style as well. However, Mohammed’s deeper application of
the earth colours in The Young prince series and Sisters makes the difference.
Alexis Galleries, according to Chidiac was
not unaware of the complex surface of representing artists in Nigeria. “Yes, we
know the difficulty of representing artists. But we want to sanitise the art
market by truly representing the artists and get the right value for their
works.” She relied on the regular sponsors such as Leventis, Litho-Chrome, Veuve
Clicquot Ponsardin, Cool TV, Wazobia TV, Cool Fm, Nig Info Lagos, Wazobia Fm,
Arra Wines, The Avenue Suites, Nova Internet Solutions, Chocolat Royal, The
Homestores and Art CafĂ© to ensure that “young artists are truly represented
without necessarily signing out their lives in a contract.”
The interest of the artists, Edozie assured,
cannot be better protected having someone like him in the Alexis Galleries
team, who himself an artist “that has gone through the difficult stages of
being established.”
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