Signature Past Artwork Gallery lately hosted three artists in a joint exhibition that showcased modern life and cultural id by way of stunning sculptures and work.
TWO sculptors and a painter lit up Signature Past Artwork Gallery, Ikoyi, Lagos, from October 19 to 26, with expressive works in a joint exhibition titled 'Interwoven Varieties'.
The present that includes sculptors Ebong Ekwere, Alli Raheem and painter Adeniyi Olanrewaju showcases their interpretations of latest life and cultural id by way of stunning sculptures and work.
'Interwoven Varieties' can also be a celebration of collaboration between generations, as Ekwere's observe dates again to the Eighties, whereas Raheem and Olanrewaju started their observe within the twenty first century. Certainly, a few of Ekwere's contemporaries mentored the younger artists.
Ekwere and Raheem each discover the transformative nature of wooden, shaping it into evocative types that bridge custom and modern aesthetics within the present.
Raheem's works are advanced, interwoven figures and geometric motifs that talk to themes of connection, id and resilience. These embody 'Kiss the Bride', 'Ego' (Igberaga), 'Ojukoro', 'Daydream', 'Yinmu', 'Fragrant II', 'Thought' and 'Ruminating', all made with stained apa wooden.
Ekwere's elegant and summary sculptures, with their easy surfaces and elongated silhouettes, convey a way of motion and serenity. He captures fluidity and beauty in his eight sculptures within the exhibition 'Perspective 1 &11', 'Bond', 'Magnificence I, II & III', 'Masculinity' and 'Man', confirming his mastery of kind.
The duo presents a compelling dialog in wooden, the place fluidity meets construction, and abstraction goes hand in hand with realism.
Olanrewaju innovatively makes use of geometric patterns and shapes to create structured compositions that replicate on id, human connection and concrete life in work featured within the exhibition. These embody 'Black Magnificence', 'Lagos Site visitors', 'Brother's Keeper', 'Snap Chat Babe', 'Avenue Scene', 'Disable with Hope' and 'CMS Lagos'. All of his 13 social commentary works within the exhibition have been created between the previous yr and the present yr.
He shared extra about his inventive course of; the Lagos State Authorities's ban on industrial bike riders impressed 'Bike Riders', and he wished to encourage individuals with bodily disabilities by way of 'Disable with Hope'.
“I felt I couldn't simply drop the ban on industrial bike riders with out documenting it, therefore my choice to color 'Bike Riders'. Individuals rode bikes indiscriminately, even on the freeway, and acquired concerned in accidents. I ought to lend a voice to curb the observe, therefore the portray. 'Disable with Hope' reveals individuals enjoying basketball in a wheelchair to indicate what they will do with their incapacity. You may by no means write somebody off.”
Olanrewaju additional defined: “As an artist, I attempt to seize the wonder and complexity of the world by way of my creations. Utilizing coloration, texture and kind, I need to evoke emotion and spark the creativeness in those that view my work. My items typically discover themes of nature, id and the human expertise. I consider these are common ideas that join us all. With each brushstroke, I hope to depart a long-lasting impression and supply a singular perspective on the world round us.”
Raheem, a graduate of Federal Polytechnic, Auchi, who additionally paints however is extra snug with sculpting, defined his inventive course of thus: “My wood sculptural items are made in a stylized kind that I develop over time. have developed. I regularly sketch to seize depth and concepts, that are then translated into detailed fashions earlier than being transferred to the woodblock. My inspiration comes from nature and the hanging issues round me, normally fueled by my creativeness and ideas. I’m obsessed with working with wooden due to its unpredictability and the curiosity sparked by its pure grain patterns.”
For his half, the taciturn Ekwere believes that “whereas artwork displays our deepest ideas and beliefs, it is usually secure to say that it’s an expression of our character.”
Undoubtedly, the trio have totally expressed their personalities within the beautiful works on show in 'Interwoven Varieties', even when they’re all most wanting ahead to particular person reveals.
READ ALSO: 2027 Normal Election between APC, Nigerians – Governor Makinde
