By Tajudeen Sowole
A first solo art exhibition
for Tega Akpokona comes with bold, though shadow of some of his mentors. But an
artist who has a determination to step beyond the initial unavoidable influence
of his masters is also loud in the brushings of Akpokona.
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Give Us This Day
Oil On Canvas / 44 X 40 Inches / 2016
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An artist with faint texture of impressionism,
Akpokona whose solo, Timeless opened yesterday at Terra Kulture,
Victoria Island, Lagos, is denouncing isms of any kind for broader freedom of
expression. Art, he argues, should not be confined to movements or any group
ideology. That’s quite a familiar argument common among most artists of
contemporary age.
However, Akpokona appears to be working his
talk as seen in some of the works during a preview of the exhibition. Despite a
toning style that leans towards European renaissance classic period, the young
artist's application of light, particularly in softening and highlighting
imagery could just be his strong asset in the brushing and paletting business.
Thematically, Akpokona brings onto canvas
issues that set people thinking beyond narrow partisan of politics and ethnic
bigotry. Also, his love for artisans and cottage industry is of interest.
One of his works titled Give Us This Day,
rendition of a queue of IDPs lining up to collect food should make sympathisers
of those who benefits from Dasuki-gate do a self-assesement of their moral
values. "It is my visual way of expressing concerns that we have refugees
in our country," Akpokona tells his guests ahead of the exhibition.
And just in case the sympathizers of
Dasuki-gate and their beneficiaries still do not understand the catastrophe
caused by diversion of fund meant for Nigerian army's fight against Boko Haram
terrorists, Akpokona adds: "farmers who should be producing foods have
been displaced, and are now begging for foods." Lit in the artist's
technique of highlighting, which creates both silhouetted and illuminated
images from the figures, Give Us This Day captures tragedy of a whole
region in northeast Nigeria that was prevented from three seasons of farming as
a result of Boko Haram insurgency.
As much as Akpokona's works are heavily laced
with thought provoking themes, the essence of art as an embodiment of
conversation and aesthetic values are not missing. This much exists in works
such as Allegory of the Receiving Ends, Refulgence and Sanguine
Whispers, among others.
Basically, the artist's palette has a loud
colour for the cottage and non-formal sector of Nigerian work force.
"Industrious and artisan people inspire my work," he says.
Akpokona's bio: he is an outstanding and
talented young Nigerian emerging artist. He lives and works in Lagos. He
graduated with a Bachelor in Art Degree, from the University of Benin, Nigeria,
in 2011. Subsequently, He became a protégé under the mentorship of master
Nigerian artist Abiodun Olaku at the Universal Studios of Art. Viewing His
paintings, the viewer is allured by the creative use of light interplayed with
rich subtle, colours, capturing the depth of human emotions. His works can be
found in prestigious private collections Nigeria, in the UK and in the US.
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| Tega Akpokona |
Selected Exhibitions and
Awards - Empower 54 African Art Charity Gala', Atlanta GA, USA, 2016
-Affordable Art Auction' Arthouse Contemporary, February 2016
-"EMERGINGARTISTAWARD", SocietyofNigeriaArtists2015 - Society of
Nigerian artist "October rain" art exhibition, Lagos, 2014
-"Home coming", a salon by contemporary Nigerian artists, Abuja, 2014
-“ArtintheHouse”,Abuja,2013
-"Unforgettable Treasures" miniature artfair, Lagos, 2009.
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