By Osa Mbonu-Amadi, Arts Editor

Recently, Alexies Galleries hosted a private viewing of a group exhibition titled ‘Persons and Identities’ by Richard Adusu, Victorien Bazo, Romaric Bidias, Alex Peter Idoko, William Tagne Njepe, Olamide Ogunade, Daniel Sowemimo and Marcel Tchopwe.

Curator of the show, Adebimpe Owoyemi, said the exhibition is a collection of works that depict human experiences, connecting with the past while preserving the present.

The works of the exhibiting artists, says Owoyemi, highlight the richness in identity, the bundle theory of self, the core element of a person, the evidence of living as conscious beings, and our persistence through time which are effortlessly exhibited every second, every minute, every day, exhibiting existing and new patterns through time.

These artists within the core of their creativity, with different mediums and styles, had found a way to depict the essence of their subjects in different compositions. The curator took time to give a short description of the work of each artist:

Richard Adusu’s paintings are relatable as he explores the true stories of the people around his vicinity and the African diaspora. One of his captivating works titled ‘Scarf of many colours’ captured the intensity of the subject even with few colours.

Victorien Bazo in his works, challenges Africans to perpetuate their ancestral practices in the context of modernity. This can be seen in one of his exhibiting works ‘Grass Clearing in a ‘Living Room’. The piece is an engaging one that depicts a strong message even in a twisted depiction.

Romaric Bidias conveys a humanist approach to capture the emotions of youth in the quest for hope. One of his paintings titled ‘Hold Me’ conveys the same concept. An amazing composition of characters with an interactive background. Their expression regardless of the tense background, depicts hope. The usage of bright colours resonates with the message.

Alex Idoko in his work ‘Becoming’, captures the pure emotions of the character. A solitary mood of an elegantly looking dark skin, afro lady, stepping out of the crowd she initially was. The expressive gestures on her face speak of her preferred side of the wall.

Williams Tagne’s paintings are the portrayal of child labor, the portraiture of children dreaming of a better future. One of his exhibiting works, ‘Conqueror Babangida’ is a pictorial depiction of what is and what is hoped for, when fusing the subject and the activities in the background.

‘Alone with the Thorn’ by Olamide Ogunade is a figurative painting of a black character, projecting strength in individuality, surrounded by bubbles, merging reality and illusion.

Daniel Sowemimo tackles vulnerability and anxiety while embracing healing, David aesthetically expresses the struggle, fears, and all the emotional baggage and experiences on the canvas and faces them. One of his works, ‘Abyss I’ explained his personal struggle with anxiety, the coping mechanism, and the struggle that comes with it.

The question of emotion is constantly observed in Marcel’s work. He explores the state of mind of his subject through expressions. ‘Mototaxi’ is one such expressive painting. Every keen detail surrounding the subject is the reflection of an inner being.

“Identity can be contingent and temporary, varying from one time to another in different persons, in different cultures, and traditions. Open your mind as you share in these subjects’ existence,” said the curator.