By Tajudeen Sowole
A few days after the formal
opening of a solo Islamic art exhibition by Ridwan Osinowo titled Seeds of
Peace: The Sower and the Envoy, a spiritual calmness still pervades the
National Museum gallery space to reinforce the essence of the show. The outlet,
some religionists would argue, is quite 'strange' and 'forbidden' space, as it
is home for keeping 'idols'. But the
liberalism of the artist, which springs from the Islamic faith that he
proclaims appears to have dispelled the wrong perception and barrier that make
intolerance grow.
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| Some of the Seeds of Peace: The Sower and the Envoy exhibition at National Museum, Onikan, Lagos. |
More
importantly, creativity appears to have found a space, particularly when peace
and co-existence is the focus of the exhibition. Visiting the exhibition this
afternoon, a sculptural piece in vase titled Ultimate Testimony
ornamented in golden calligraphic texture and a 'vessel', Divine Light
also spiced in calligraphy, confirm the victory of art over intolerance of
faith. With these two beautiful floor sculptures, the path for a cruise through
the liberal world of Islamic art is set. In fact, Divine Light, which
generates illumination from within, offers the right spiritual beam for
guidance through the exhibits.
Osinowo,
who has set out as a faith-based artist, has been consistent since the early
stages of his career and coming into the Seed exhibition with a new
technique of work in progress. Among such works are Sower's Yard and the
Melting Pot Series. These set of works rendered in a fresh texture of
stained-glass using mirror and gold paining add quite a feel of celestial to
the entire body of work on display. Other works that expose the artist's new
techniques include Ka'abah: A Place of Piece and Muhammad: Messenger
of Mercy. Oshinowo describes one of his techniques: "Aluminium
Composite Panel (ACP) on board, sublimation plate and sublimation
printing."
The essence of the exhibition is to define a
strong relationship between God and man as regards promoting peace, Osinowo
explains ahead of the opening. "The Sower is Almighty God while individual
members of the society are the envoys that are expected to walk the noble
course."
As a
painter, Osinowo asserts his skill in the landscape pieces as much as he does
in the sculptural and stained glass works.
For example, Peaceful Co-existence, a rendition of ecstatic depth
in landscape painting, implores as analogy of co-habitation of water and plant
to challenge intolerance among humans, across races, tribes and faiths.
Though
a faith-based exhibition, Seeds of Peace...brings fresh breath into the
exhibition circuit of Lagos by offering a window into the creative space of the
vast world of art. The artist's passion for promoting a faith-based creative
enterprise goes beyond the studio commitment. Osinowo is involved in an outlet,
Halal Art Gallery, through which Islamic art gets appreciation. In fact, the
exhibition is organised by Halal, a modest space in Ilupeju, mainland of Lagos,
with the support of Ismail Bolaji Ebiti Jama'a in Islam (IBEJI) Foundation and
the Forum for Islamic Welfare and Education.
"Going by the exhibition’s
title, each of over 40 artworks on display symbolizes a seed of peace; the Sower
is Almighty God while individual member of the society is the envoy that is
expected to walk the noble course," the artist explained to select guests
ahead of the opening. "Titles of the individual art pieces were mostly
generated from verses of the Qur’an and sayings of
Prophet Muhammad which form the foundation of Islam as a religion of
peace."
Osinowo had in 2006, showed in a group art n
Islamic exhibition group exhibition, Extracts From the Master Artist at
Didi Museum, Lagos Island. Heading for his just closed debut solo Seed of
Peace, Osinowo had, in 2011 and 2013 showed at group outings Islamic art
Architecture, Slide Sho and Visual Presenation, Architects Colloquium, The
Architect Forum; and Islamic Arts for Peace and Unity, both in
Abuja.
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