Visual images in Season of Valentine

BY  JAPHET ALAKAM

In line with the spirit of love and as part of his own special way of celebrating love in this season of Valentine, one of Nigerian’s avid art collector, painter, graphic artists, and the director of BiodunOmalayo Art Gallery, Biodun Omolayo, last week organised a group exhibition tagged Affectionate Pieces, an exhibition of contemporary art.

The one week exhibition which can be described as the gallery’s Valentine gift to art enthusiasts opened on 13th of February at the BiodunOmolayo Art gallery, located at the National Museum ,Onikan and ended on 19th of February, 2011.

For Biodun Omolayo, a banker turned artist who is not new to appreciation and show of love as it was his love for arts and children that led to the establishment of the Young At Arts Kids programme, a programme that introduces kids into arts at a tender age, the exhibition is to celebrate the artists in this season of love..

Featuring about 50 art pieces comprising of paintings, sculptural works, mixed media, drawings and textile designs in oil on canvass, acrylics, mixed media etc of 10 Nigerian contemporary artists, some of the exhibiting artists include; Mr Biodun Omalayo, Deola Bolagun, Francis Denedo, Kelani Abass, Yinka Aransola, Soji Yoloye, Joe Real Okwum, Edith Nwaulu, Olumide Onadipe, Inyang Edwin and others.

It was indeed a real display of creativity and talent by the exhibiting artists as exemplified by the caliber of works showcased at different locations in the gallery. True to the season, some of the works actually explained the meaning of love like, Kelani Abass’s miniature painting, titled Ectasy which depicts a true deeper reflection of love as shown by a young girl. Others were Faces of love by Biodun Omolayo, Sisi Eko and Feminine Dance by Soji Yoloye. Other works exhibited were Valley of Abundance, Let there be a river, by Biodun Omolayo, After the Bath by Exodus Alleluya, Supplication by Edith Nwulu, The Big Fish(feeding fat on others) and The Seed Metaphor by Adeola Balogun,as well as Cultural Patterns by Kilani Abass, Joy of Abundance by Joe Real Emeh Okwu, The Couple by Olumide Onadipe, Family Affairs by Yinka Aransiola, Moonlight Game by Simon Onozutu and others.

Taking viewers round the works, the banker turned artist and curator of the gallery Biodun Omolayo stated that Affectionate is all about love. “In this season, everybody is talking about Valentine and the question is how do you express it, people express it in many ways, but for me it is a time to celebrate with some of the artists that have been with us for years. There is no other thing that binds us together except love and unity so, I say let me just express this love by showcasing their works.”

Many angles

Continuing, he pointed out that the exhibition cuts across many angles as most of the works are by different artists. For example, there is a work by Exodus Alleluyah titled After Bath, a metal work of a lady coming out of the bathroom with her bucket in her hand. The work according him, is very special because it was done by a man who never went to school nor had any sculptural training but is doing wonderfully well with his sculptural pieces. There is also another work by Edith Nwulu titled Supplication, which depicts a painting of a young woman praying and works by Adeola Balogun, a lecturer at Yaba College of Technology and others.

Speaking about the works, one of the exhibiting artist, Edith Nwulu stated that her work Supplication depicts a woman weeping and at the same time praying to God. For her, it is like that for most people who has lost one thing or the other but the message is that no matter the circumstances people should no lose hope but should rather look up to God for help.

Affectionate pieces was indeed a better way to celebrate love as visitors to the gallery had a field day looking at creative works by the exhibiting artists.

Apart from the exhibition, other events by the gallery include the Young at Art children Art workshop that introduce and educate children into arts at a tender age, the Sweet Art, a women art workshop, the Lead Art, an executive art workshop and Celebrity Art, which is used as collectors extra benefits.