By Olamide Babatunde
Nigerian contemporary leading and emerging artistes are currently holding a group exhibition titled The Contemporaries at Wheatbaker Hotel, Lagos State. The exhibition continues till November 13.
The artistes are Nnenna Okore, Duke Asidere, Uchay Joel Chima, Gerald Chukwuma, Raoul Olawale da Silva, Anthea Epelle, Taiye Idahor, Chika Idu, Adeyinka Akingbade, Tony Nsofor, and Onyeama Offoedu-Okeke and it is sponsored by Veuve Cliquot.
The exhibition of 21 paintings, sculptures, drawings, and mixed media works are a timely reflection of current trends in Nigeria, and makes stirring and, sometimes, tongue-in-cheek, comments about a nation expectant of change. The exhibition is a robust exchange of ideas challenging its audience not to merely “think outside the box”, but to literally “stand on the box” and use it as platform to behold new vistas.
The exhibition is a kaleidoscope of art that offers fresh perspectives on the environment and developmental issues, feminism, unity, identity, history & tradition and freedom of expression, draw on the artists’ unique heritage and perspectives.
Sculptor and environmental activist, Uchay Joel Chima, whose skilfully crafted charcoal and paper relief, addresses rampant environmental degradation and security challenges is juxtaposed against the masterly paintings of children swimming under-water created by Chika Idu, who tried to escape the nightmare of traffic gridlocked streets by relying on water transportation, only to be confronted with the daily struggles of coastal communities affected by dredging, pollution, flooding and all forms of urban pressure.
Artist, historian and architect, Onyema Offoedu-Okeke, presents Obstacles to Paradise on the theme of global migration showing the desperate fragmented surge of humanity across geometric paths of color and symbol, while master sculptor Gerald Chukwuma’s ironic multi-media work, CHOP, created out of an intricate pattern of plastic spoons on wooden slats, makes a strong comment on the social cancer of corruption and the growing gap between Africa’s well heeled elite and the increasingly disadvantaged poor; in the artist’s own words, there is “plenty food, plenty spoons and empty plates”.
“Art reflects society within a constantly evolving socio-political reality,” explained exhibition curator, Sandra Mbanefo Obiago, who started documenting the impact of contemporary Nigerian art in 2011 in a five part documentary series, Red Hot Nigerian Creativity, which she produced and co-directed. “Its exciting to see how the contemporary art scene is making a positive impact on our international identity and confidence as Nigerians, as Lagos fast becomes one of the most-talked-about emerging global art cities.”
The Contemporaries will intrigue visitors through works which exhibit inspirational bold abstract human forms created by painters Raoul Olawale da Silva and Tony Nsofor, alongside the unusual biomorphic sculptures and installations created by internationally celebrated Nnenna Okore, in which twine, burlap, and discarded newspapers touch on recycling, transformation and regeneration inspired by natural and man-made conditions within semi rural dwellings.
Taiye Idahor’s intricate collage and pencil drawings called hairvolution weave a story offeminism and identity, complementing the works of fashion designer turned full time studio artist, Anthea Epelle, whose heavily patterned and textured canvases draw inspiration from the rich legacy of African cloth.
On the other hand, Duke Asidere’s deft play on red reflects the growing power of new technology in Freedom & Liberty, which grew out of the artist’s focus on the importance of protecting people’s fundamental right to think and explore, complementing emerging artist Adeyinka Akingbade monochromatic compositions, which appear a visual meeting point between eastern and western symbolism and calligraphy.
“All these stirring works are a powerful mosaic of avant-garde contemporary African expression,” summed Mosun Ogunbanjo, Wheatbaker Director, whose architectural and design legacy helped shape the hotel’s art focus,” adding, “The Contemporaries reflects the raw creative energy and opinions of a vibrant country with all its contradictions and potentials.”