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Oju Loro Wa (30 x 49) painting by Chamberlin Ukenedo |
And perhaps, the ideal place to make the cries of the neglected people heard is the heart of the affluents, where, most likely, policy makers dwell. With about 24 paintings, Ukenedo is currently engaging the privileged class and others - whose action or inaction makes the difference - in his solo art exhibition titled Silent Voices, showing till May 6, 2017 at Quintessence Gallery, Ikoyi, Lagos.
In figurative of mostly portraiture kind, Ukenedo pours his mind onto the canvas, representing what he says are the "unheard voices of my environment."
From losing his
father in what looked like unauthorised medical evaluation, to other similar
situations that often lead low income earners into avoidable tragedy, Ukenedo
is being inspired to render images of people who
need helps - big or small. In fact, the recent rise in suicide deaths among Nigerians, appeared to have energised his choice of themes.
need helps - big or small. In fact, the recent rise in suicide deaths among Nigerians, appeared to have energised his choice of themes.
Some of the works include elongated neck female
portrait titled All Eyes On Me; Oju Loro Wa series (boy and girl),
laying emphasis on eyeball-to-eyeball; a three series of mask-like, Everyday People; and a love content
one, Apple of My Eyes Series, among others.
"As an artist influenced
by his
environment, my works speak not just for
myself, but also for everyone who shares the same existential space, including
the disenfranchised," Ukenedo explains in his
Artist statement. "My
perception and ability to portray the complexities of human emotions has
inspired this body of works about the everyday Nigerian whose condition has
forced a new way – a different medium – of expressing the melancholic soul of
his life."
After 16 years
as an advertising professional, Ukenedo who argues that there is freedom for
artist outside the confinement of ad agency creative studio, stresses how "ad gives you money, but Art brings
freedom."
An artist with
bold llustrative skill, Ukenedo captures attention by laying emphasis on the
crucial features of facial expression, thus stimulating dialogue with
figurative rendition of images. This much is expressed in such works as Looku
Looku, Will You Marry Me? Help Me and Oju Loro Wa series. For these paintings,
the artist highlights the importance of eyes
sometimes the lips, in subtle communication. In fact, Ukenedo's styles
and technique in facial features rendition could be a great asset to animators
who might be interested in making silent film.
Excerpts from
his Artist Statement:
Because life and art imitate each other, Silent Voices
reverberates their mood, spirit, expression and reaction to life as a people.
What
we do not say or have not said is often times captured and externalized through
a gradation of facial manipulations involving the lips, brow, chin, nose, eyes,
cheeks and all.
Silent
Voices asserts that the face out there is an art piece; for we cry, we squint,
we gaze, we frown, we glaze, we scowl, we pout, we leer, we scoff…at the
checkered rhythms of life. When we are stripped of words, the eyes are the
messengers of the soul.
"So, we keep our eyes
open (or peeled), we see eye-to-eye with some but turn a blind eye to others.
Some
people relapse into absent-mindedness and become looku looku! while some are
simply the apple of one’s eye.
Some
are distressed and need help. You may prefer body language but ensure that no
one would pull the wool over your eyes.
For
the shy, timid and introverted rise and shine; your face is an expressive
canvass – it has got a voice...
This
is my documentation – Silent Voices!"
- Tajudeen Sowole
- Tajudeen Sowole
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