By Chris Onuoha

Mydrim Gallery in Ikoyi, recently played host to two prolific painters, Wallace Ejo and Jefferson Jonahan, products of Yaba College of Technology and Auchi Polytechnic respectively in an art exhibition tagged ‘Ascension”. It is a creative journey of two painters in a stunning juxtaposition of raw and real rendition that runs from September 22 to October 6.

Nude women by Wallace Ejo and Waiting for manna by Jefferson Johanan

While Wallace Ejo was too loose or perhaps harsh with his brush strokes administering various hues on canvas, depicting his mastery and appeal for  nudity and women as emblematic symbols of social life in the city, Jefferson was very subtle with pastel on paper in an utmost realistic presentation of life challenges such as his the redition on his theme work ‘Waiting for Manna’.

The exhibited paintings clearly confirm that the two artists are now masters in their field. The aim of the duo is to showcase an evolving artistic journey over decades of practice in a manner that represents their opposite styles but with oneness in artistic agreement.

As guests consume passionately the array of works on display with eye popping awe over the alluring strength of the art pieces, sales were equally rapid as most of the works were been tagged by collectors.

Although art exhibition is partly meant to showcase artists’ strength for popularity rating, but the commercial impact recorded on ‘Ascension’ was impressively redefining. A guest was quick to posit that having known Wallace in the days of art practice at the Universal Studio of Art, National Thearter, under Abiodun Olaku, he has overtime mastered his craft with powerful strokes that show maturity in works.

According to the pastelist, Jefferson, The essence of the fair was not commercial.” He said that the power and endearing appeal of the works attracted the patronage it garnered.

“We were much concerned with public rating of our works which depicts the evolving strength we garnered over the years of practice, but having recorded many sales in this exhibition shows God’s favour and hard work too, because we must have to keep food on the table for our families,” Jefferson said.

About fifty works were exhibited comprising 25 oil paintings by Wallace Ejo  titled Pugilist, the maverick, and women of substance among others and another 25 realistic pastel on paper by Jefferson Jonathan that include Waiting for manna, anchored faith, Makoko prodigy, Weep not child among others.