By Chukwuma Ajakah

Multi awards winning contemporary fine art photographer Awoyomi Ayodeji recently led other three foreign-based artists to a group exhibition entitled “Playful Perspective.”

The one-day exhibition featured works of UK based trio of Sulaiman Abubakar,  Rahimat  Shaibu and Olusolape Awe and took place at Madhouse Gallery, Oduduwa Drive, University of Lagos. A total of 20 contemporary art pieces of diverse styles, contexts and colors were  paraded at the exhibition which  showcased five works of each of the exhibiting artists.

In a virtual chat with Arts Journalists, the lead artist and curator Awoyomi Ayodeji speaks about the theme in relations with  his body of work: “In a world often defined by seriousness and constraint, my work seeks to liberate the imagination through playful perspective. By capturing ordinary objects and scenes in unexpected ways, I invite the viewer to reconsider his own perception and find joy in the unexpected.”

He noted that through the use of unusual angles, creative composition and touch of humour, he “aims to challenge the conventional notion of beauty and aesthetics,” adding that his works were a celebration of human spirit’s ability to find wonders and delight in the most ordinary circumstances.

The artist whose work is a testament to the power of photography said: “by presenting familiar subjects in a new light, I inspire viewers to see the world with fresh eyes and a sense of childlike wonder. So my work is a visual invitation to embrace the playful side of life and discover the beauty that exists all around us.”

For Olasolape Awe his series entitled “No-Mala (No Evil) is a visual journey through prism of human identity. The visionary artist and legal practitioner embarks on a journey that transformed his passion for art and documentary in 2019 where he captures the essence of Kano State of Nigeria in contrast to Lagos State where he grew up. “It was in Kano I first saw billboards purely in Hausa language.” he intoned.

The encounter ignited a lifelong passion for storytelling through mixed media, and forever altering his artistic perspective. Awe’s works, which are mostly abstracts have been featured in publications in Nigeria, United Kingdom, historical books and articles displayed in galleries and recognized with prizes in various contests and competitions across the world.

He speaks on “No-Mala series which utilises the captivating patterns created by a linear glass prism to explore the unhidden depth of human identify: “No-Mala,” series are seemingly jarring monochromatic images which invites the viewer to try to see individuals beyond their outward appearances, transcending constraints of language, culture and stereotypes because humans are humans, people are people.

“It could mean “not bad,” or no evil.” Two words in language like “no English,” and “ba Hausa,” which a person says when he/she does not speak English nor Hausa language. The series is borne out of my encounter with various people who cannot tell when someone is not what or whom they presume. Either someone who doesn’t speak the same language as they or doesn’t have the features of whatever stereotypes they believe.

 “It’s a visual exploration of superficial human physical features through unconventional, naturally occurring means, such that at the end of the day, no matter what shape, colour, size or form we have or can be perceived, we are still all human. So it’s playfully fun and sincere to see it that way.”

The artist’s personal journey resonates deeply with the subjects he portrays. While he has faced many struggles due to his background, his nationality as a Nigerian, the colours of his skin and how he speaks, his subject, an Italian woman, who is a widely traveled, well-read female polyglot and artist of Italian descent, has had her own share of maligning as a woman and none-native English speaker in spaces consisted of native English speakers.

He applies his works in tackling racism and changing the way “we see ourselves from the clear glass of tribe, race, colour and religion especially in advanced countries. “You can call it racism: people looking at you in a certain way. And these are obviously what influences my work and I want to change it because it affects my life. There were no photoshop in creating the pictures. They were natural and I took them through glass pieces, and they have a kind of sculptures that form different effects,” he stated.

Abubakar comes with portraits of people from different parts of Africa: Nigerians, Ghanaians as well as other parts of the world trying to create distance between themselves. “It’s a kind of “You’re an African, stay with Africans, you’re British, stay with the British,”” he said, adding that one of his pieces illustrates how we ought to live by coming together to form a pool of peaceful and united  people.

“For me being black or white shouldn’t be a ground to differentiate, my job as a human being is to show one that I can make him/her happy. I can put a smile on anybody’s face for us to see that it’s not just the colour of my skin, but trying to make one’s day by bringing people together knowing that as a white man or Asian we can always have something in common.

“The fact that we have different fancies doesn’t matter, we are human beings. And whether my skin is brown, black or white I  bring out togetherness through my work so that we can mutually benefit from each other and share from each other.”

He also showcased the anatomy of an old man with basket in his head depicting what men go through in life trying to provide food and basic needs for their households. “The pix shows a man in his old age who has no choice but to keep providing for his family,” he added.

Rahimat Shaibu,’s “Faces of Me,” is a visual exploration of hidden talents and uncelebrated creativity in a world that often overlooks subtle skills and quiet expression.

A creative make-up artist, she noted that: “Faces of Me” is a series on drawing and painting which brings out the elements into the spotlight, using vibrant make-up against a monochromatic background to symbolize the unique abilities that deserve recognition.”

Blending make-up artistry with photography and videography, the selective use of color she says stands for the talents that stand out even when surrounding a world that can feel overwhelmingly grey. “It is a statement about the power of creativity to shine through, demanding appreciation and acknowledgement, even in the most muted environment.”

The innovative artist known for her unique approach to visual storytelling through her work aims to inspire her viewer to see beyond the surface, to celebrate the extraordinary in the everyday and to honour the unseen talents that make the world more vibrant and diverse. 

He wowed her viewer with her eye-catching art pieces, contextualised  to celebrate being black and African as is the norm with other artists.Her series highlights African dominant colours of yellow, red, and green produced during the black history month where she drew her inspiration. The colours represent talents that can shine and will continue to shine even when everywhere is grey, black or white.

One of the guest artists to the exhibition Jeboda Emmanuel, a Youth Corper and photographer in Oyo State described the works as inspiring and motivating adding that “some of the works reminds one of our culture and lineage where women occupy leadership position and are also respected. The prints are wonderful.”