By Tajudeen Sowole
In its fourth edition,
Adekusibe Odunfa-led series themed Faces
and Phases, which opened yesterday at Terra Kulture, Victoria Island, Lagos
and showing till next week continues its focus in highlighting progression of
select artists.
The Chase by Donald Ekpo, among works showing at Faces and Phases. |
Started over three years ago with Odunfa's
collection shown alongside works of few other artists, the 2016 edition of Faces and Phases confirms that the event
is gradually becoming a regular feature in art calendar of Lagos.
More interesting, the series is attracting
increasing number of artists every year. From few artists at debut to nine last
year, the exhibition is currently showing 15 artists, including new entrants.
The regular artists Oluwole Olufemi and Ade
Odunfa are joined by new entrants: Adeleke Olajide, Arikpo Godwin, Bolaji
Ogunwo, Babatunde Ogunlade, Chucks Okonkwo, Donald Ekpo, Durudola Yusuf, Henry
Chigbo , Ibrahim Afegbua, Jonathan Ikpoza, Opedun Damilola, Uzoma Samuel and
Sophia Igbinovia who is the only lady ever to show in Faces and Phases.
In the era when contemporaneity is expanding
the scope of art and collapsing barriers, the tradition of fine art is hardly
making any sharp changes in Lagos. This much has been upheld, even by young
artists of Nigerian postmodernism, so suggests some of the works at viewed
ahead of opening.
However, in Free Spirit, a painting by
Ikpozoa, the artist's sense of surreal combines well with three layers of the
composition’s texture. A greenery background, reddish foreground and heavy
mid-space where the subject is centralised are what make the artist a potent
material in the bridge between modern and contemporaneity.
Also confirming artists’ escape into contemporary
period is The Chase by Ekpo, another
surreal piece. Even in Odunfa's Gele Dun,
a portrait painting of an unidentified figure, there exist a texture of
contemporaneity, which finds collaboration with traditional style and forms.
Recalling how the series started as an
experiment with few works from his collection, Odunfa enthuses that
"today, Faces and Phases has
become a forum for young artists to express themselves." The focus, he
adds, remain the same, stressing how it helps artists to increase their skills
by showing new works. And the increase in interests among artists, he
discloses, has brought in entries from Port Harcourt and Ibadan.
Support for the exhibition comes from design
genre, Makadel School of Style and Design, a fashion institute based in Lagos. The
expansion of the exhibition with more artists is the attraction for Makadel,
explains Nita-Nkese Ephraim, CEO. The fashion house's involvement in the
exhibition since last year has generated exposure for it's design pieces, adds
Ephraim.
Curatorial statement: "Odunfa with
subtle minimalist approach saturates his works with obvious brush strokes that
are gentle and aggressive as his mood dictates. He create works in which a
fascination with clarity and an uncompromising attitude towards conceptual and
minimal art becomes found. Olajide’s paintings are
mostly night scene of landscapes. He illuminates his scenes to change the
stereotype effects of unreliable supply of electricity in Nigerian streets.
Godwin’s use of alternative materials are highly innovative
and surpasses routine techniques. His works are multi-sensual as he creates
solid ground for love, unity and peace.
"Ogunwo ventilates loudly via rich
texture created by his pallete with aims at addressing the social-political
issues ranging from corruption and moral deficit in anticipation that Nigeria
will be a giant nation again. Okonkwo’s Paintings though
drawn from emotion, memories, nature, event, experience etc., are mystical as
you will keep gazing to find more personal meaning. Chigbo presents an
adventure of feeling subjects as seen by the artist.
Yusuf’s
works are visual interpretation done with dexterous experimentation fuelled
with expressive drama. Ibrahim Afegbua approach his sculptures with process
that are unconventional, he explores different materials and methods with
passion for use of found objects, inter playing them in his works. He uses
binding wires and rods in creating indefinite forms suggesting movement, shapes
and forms."
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