Onobrakpeya, Over 30 artists Go Affordable

By Tajudeen Sowole

In expanding art appreciation beyond the traditional premium scale, 38 artists - across generations - are displaying their works under a modest platform to encourage young and new collectors. Tagged Affordable Art Show, it's a gathering of mostly miniature pieces in painting and sculpture, which is showing from May 27-June 11, 2016 at Mydrim Gallery, southwest Ikoyi.

The Spirit of  Broad Street oil canvas, paper by   Oladimeji  Oluwafunke

 Among the exhibiting artists are Dr Bruce Onobrakpeya, Segun Adesanya, Suraj Adekoya, Okosun Adesua, Ayobola Kekere-Ekun, Olufemi Kayo, Joshua Nmesirionye, Johnson Uwadinma, Wahab Aromire, Andrew Alhamdulilahi and Oladimeji Oluwafunke, among others.

 The gallery, which is known for showing specific exhibitions such as the yearly Pastel appears to have found additional brand to its list of shows, perhaps, peculiar to the gallery. In fact,  director at Mydrim Gallery, Mrs Sinmidele Adesanya hinted that the Affordable Show could hold twice or quarterly in a year. "The situation of the economy that we are in now calls for Affordable," she told select preview guests few days ago. "So, the target of the show are young collectors who like to derive pleasure from affordable collections." 

 Aligning with the reality of the local economy as well as encouraging modest collecting of art, Affordable Art Show, according Adesanya offer prizes that are indeed within competitive red tags such as "ranging from as small as N5,000 to medium price like N250,000."

 However, the dynamics of the art market also creates opportunity for speculators to use Affordable in making large collections. "But the small collection of today," Adesanya added, could be the big sales of tomorrow. 

 Apart from the economic or affordability factor, most of the works for the exhibition appear like some pieces that would come as mental rescue in period of distress. Among such works on display during the preview is a small painting of classic texture titled The Family House, by Oluwafunke. Captured in what looks like a dawn or dust period, the one floor building in a quiet rural setting radiates serenity and calmness, an aura that could be a relief balm in period of stress and tension.

 Interestingly, Oluwafunke's smooth brush painting confirms increase in number of young artists, particularly in Lagos, who are returning to the basics of painting. More so that the current local blue-eyed boy of classic canvas, Olumide Oresegun's water drips and splash effects are gaining more popularity.

  Still on the canvas that resists realism, a naturalist painting, among such works on display at the Affordable Art Show preview is a medium size piece titled To The Farm by Olufemi Kayo. For those who want to escape from the stress of the city without physically leaving the urban environment, the painting, which depicts greenery and calmness of forestry, indeed offers a mental trip to village setting where natural atmosphere resides.

 And quite amazing that the gallery is the curatorial style of displaying as many as 200 pieces of paintings and sculptures, all directly from the exhibiting artists. This, perhaps, shows the level of commitment of the artists in promoting  affordable collection.

 Among other exhibiting artists are Kehinde Badmus, Uzomaka Nnuji,  Opedun Damilola, Osifeso Ezekiel,  Yemi Uthman, Salako Olajide, Opedun Damilola and Mufu Apoyin.