By Chukwuma Ajakah

The importance of local contents, particularly of indigenous values, takes centre stage in artist, Ini Brown’s display of mastery of environmental subjects. With his art, Brown celebrates the beauty of landscapes and human activities as the artist returns to the Lagos exhibition circuit with timeless paintings.

With the exhibition titled Africa’s Splendour, showing from November 1-23, 2024 at Artlab Gallery, Issac John Street, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos, Brown brings into the  Lagos art circuit, contemporary pieces that celebrate the richness of indigenous contents. The curator of Africa’s Splendour, Lekan Onabanjo described the exhibition as the most important display of splendid cultural contents in paintings in Lagos, in the current period of art season. Though the exhibiting artist is known for his mastery in watercolour, the exhibition is also featuring some of his works produced in other medium.

Formerly The Content, the gallery recently rebranded as ArtLab in what its management referred to as a Work-in-Progress towards being the most vibrant space, with focus on promoting art on the mainlands. “It’s a success story so far after promoting art under The Content Gallery for about seven years,” Onabanjo who has been the curator of all the exhibitions stated. “The Content is now rebranded as ArtLab Gallery, with more strength after our successful experience of about seven years with artists and art collectors.”

Among the works to be on display are those that capture subjects as verse as culture, environment, social and economic factors of the dwellers. For example, one of the works titled Bountiful Catch depicts the essence of a riverine community with stilt houses and winding pathways that blend seamlessly with the lush surroundings. Adding the human factor is  a satisfied fisherman wh returns home, coming from a successful day, and proudly holding two large fish in each hand.

As an art piece, Bountiful Catch celebrates Brown’s skillful brushstrokes as the vivid colours of the piece evoke a sense of joy and abundance. The painting’s warm light and tranquil atmosphere celebrate the fisherman’s bounty, honouring the traditional livelihood of riverine people. In fact, Brown’s creative skills in conveying narrative and emotion through captivating, colorful art comes alive in Bountiful Catch.

Still on how people relate with their environment, another work by Brown titled Serene Passage is a breathtaking landscape, inviting the viewer to step into its tranquil world. With tree trunks seamlessly merging with lush foliage, vibrant yellow and green evoke freshness and vitality. A winding pathway, carpeted with fallen leaves, and beckoning exploration adds to the the vibrancy of the piece as Brown’s masterful technique creates remarkable depth, drawing the viewer into the scene.

And the human contents of the painting strengthens it’s values as figures subtly integrated into the composition, adding a sense of communal integration. Brown’s skill transports the viewer to a peaceful, idyllic realm with the soft, ethereal light that permeates the painting, infusing it with serenity.

 One of Nigerian cultural resilience, adequately titled ‘Aso-Ebi Elegance’ by Brown gets attention. The artist celebrates the Aso-Ebi culture vibrantly, on canvas, capturing gorgeous women, adorned in matching attire, which radiates joy and sophistication. And as a Nigerian woman is considered not fully dressed with the headtie known as gele, Brown brings harmony among the wears such as the gele, blouse, and wrapper in a kaleidoscope of celebratory colours like reds, yellows, oranges, and violets.

 And to assert his mastery on canvas as much as he does with watercolour, Brown’s brushstrokes and textured canvas evoke the energy of a lively party. In Aso-Ebi Elegance’,  depth of creativity honours the rich cultural tradition of aso-ebi, symbolizing unity among the community. The painting presents a captivating tribute to Nigerian heritage, showcasing the beauty and vibrancy of its people.

Brown received first class honors from the Federal Polytechnic Auchi, Edo State, Nigeria, where he trained formally, ahead of  going on to have some informal training and research in watercolour in England. He also studied at the Fate Foundation, Lagos, where he learned combine the spirit of creativity and Nature.

His works have garnered numerous accolades and commendations. Including mentions in books and publications, among which is Artist of Nigeria, by Onyema offoedu-Okeke, a Ford Foundation Publication and an international publication, For Art’s Sake, A selection from The Yinka Fisher Collection, by Foundation for Contemporary & Modern Visual Art, Nigeria Artist: A Who’s Who and Bibliography African Art, Smithsonian Institute, Washington DC, United States of America, USA. His subject matter is the daily lives of those in his immediate environment. He depicts the diverse peoples and landscapes of Africa, as well as their destinies and circumstances. With his brushstrokes, that are almost next to his skin he reflects their daily life aspirations, hopes, struggles, and despairs. Ini’s paintings continue to captivate private and corporate collectors worldwide.