By Japhet Alakam

RENOWNED  painter and printmaker, Kunle Adeyemi has been working seriously towards the growth of the visual art in Nigeria.

The art teacher who is reputed to be Nigeria’s first Ph.D artist in studio practice has trained many artists and only recently in response to some of the many challenges facing the visual arts as a profession especially the rigours faced by artists’ inability to show their works as at when desired in the public place (galleries, museums, exhibition centres, etc) mounted the Open Studio 1 show in his studio at Mushin, Lagos.

The exhibition which was another way of promoting young artists was attended by many art patrons, lovers, students and collectors was declared open by Alhaji Lateef Jakande, first civilian governor of Lagos State.

It featured the works of Kunle Adeyemi and 12 other established and upcoming artists. It was special indeed as it afforded the artists especially those who do not have space exhibit their works for long, the opportunity to exhibit with their colleagues and display their works. And from the entrance of the studio to the various rooms were displayed all kind of art works done in different medium by the exhibiting artists. The exhibiting artists include Tunde Oguntuyo, Biodun Okemakinde, Adetola Adenuga, Lekan Okeshola, Aremu Monsuru, Femi Awoderu. Others were  Dayo Adeyemi, Lukman Jimoh, Olushegun Oduyele, Bashir Kalejaiye and Abiola Adeyemi.

Taking the visitors round the studio, the artists took out time to explain the works to the admiration of the visitors.The open  studio which is a 17th century tradition of salon like show, though it has taken many dimensions from one country to the other also afforded the people living within the environs and other art lovers another opportunity to come to the studio to appreciate the works displayed.

According to Adeyemi, who

observed that one of the most important and obvious considerations for any visual artist is to get his or her work exhibited said that apart from providing opportunity for the artists to display their works, the move was also a deliberate attempt to draw the attention of art promoters to provide such for upcoming artists.

“Non-availability of exhibition display spaces create room for only well established artists, masters and commercial art apologists to have regular showings of their work as against the budding or emerging artists who face rejection from galleries,” he added.