By Chris Onuoha

One can call it a dramatic come back to her first love or an era of fulfillment. After three decades of perfunctory practice, she returns with her strongest body of works featuring her recent pieces, embodied with variety that announces her as a brilliant and intelligent artist and also, works of her son, a modernist, full of strength and vigour of a youth whose style geared towards the “”tablet-age” contemporary with a speed and refinement in modern art.

Genes Apart is a mother and son joint exhibition that runs from Wednesday 24th to Friday 26th April, 2013, at Victoria Crown Plaza, Ajose Adeogun Street, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The two generations in one canvas are Nkechi Abii, a very  adventurous Nsukka trained artist whose long leave of absence from painting did not in any way deter her dexterity, rather spur more zeal to explore and create fantastic works in multi-media. A woman with a great passion for her country Nigeria.

In a period when escapism for greener pasture is the in-thing for many budding artists, this is one person who could not bulge but rather, strongly believes “positive change” is inevitable. She is a natural, silent observer who expresses her feelings or opinion through art medium.

While cartoonists use line to express the ills of the society, Nkechi uses materials and forms to capture the scene. One of the art piece “Scavengers” clearly depicts the image of those on seat where the masses tax money, entrusted in their hand for meaningful development, are seen devoured without prejudice. Next to that are the “Tribute to Alu Four”, Naija Rape, Oil Doom, Up Nepa, etc.

These, clearly show her expressionistic nature. Nkechi in her word said, “My art is my voice”, it takes a critical view of social, political and cultural issues that bemoan the nation. When I despair at the sorry state of things in the country that gave me life, my despair lifts when I assault the canvas with the brush… letting out the steam and anger in me. Her passion for colours is seen in a thorough relief work celebrating our cultural heritage – Dupe, Ngozi, Omo and Amina that dignifies womanhood. Nkechi is a tireless artist who conjures emotions in a medium.

The next generation is Nduka, a protégé of an art genius whose enthusiasm was influenced by both icons of art and the modern trend of digital art. A meticulous and thorough artist whose quest for perfection knows no bound. He’s an undergraduate of art school in an American University.

Although, trying to differ a bit from his mother, Nduka in his works on display brings out the dynamism of art. In as much as his works are greatly enhanced by digital gadgets, his use of colours on canvas vividly depicts his mastery of the game. Nduka in a chart with media said “Art is my life” and I bring everything to the exhibition, a combination of the traditional, new, and the futuristic. This is a myriad of colour, texture, style, film and experimental art.

To him, speed is the art as technology has fast-track virtually everything around us including art. This is a digital age, and most of my experimental art are done digitally.

Similarities are seen in themes where he conjures feelings into two dimensional meanings like that of his mother. He is in a way is a bridge across ancient and modern. While Nkechi is more emotional and traditional in her art approach, Nduka exhibits flamboyancy through the modernity of his own approach.

Visual expression in form of slides with special effects and music tells more of his experimental art. According to Nkechi, the joint exhibition with my son, “… the opener of my matrix” started off many years ago as a distant dream that has turned a reality and I am so excited seeing my own son trail the footpath with much vigour and enthusiasm. It is a rare combination of talent by mother and son.