BY  JAPHET ALAKAM

The Garri Seller, one of the works to be exhibited

As part of its mission of providing an enabling environment for the projection of Nigerian artists and their works, Nike Art Gallery, Lekki, Lagos will kick-start its 2011 exhibition programme with the hosting of a solo exhibitions by Emmanuel Inua.

The exhibitions which is another solo effort by the painter is titled When Women Wail and it will showcase the works of one of Nigeria’s celebrated artists in yet another realist approach in addressing the plight of women and children in Africa..

The renowned artist who has been promoting the artistic values and experiences of the culture to which he belongs will showcase about 25 works of abstract and mixed media paintings with works from his core area of strength (realism) during the exhibition. It will open on the 5th of March and run through to the 12th of March. As usual the Nike Art gallery will play host to guests and Art lovers on these days from 9 a. m. as some of the works which the artist said he has been keeping for years will be displayed.

Commenting about the exhibition, the celebrated painter from the famous Zaria Art School whose works adorn many prominent sites including the National Assembly , Abuja , Nigerian Communications Commission, Abuja, Muritala Mohammed Airport, Lagos etc said that the exhibition which is a prelude to the main exhibition that he will hold later in the year to be used to draw attention of the people to the plight of women and children in Africa with particular reference to the recent killings in Jos, where women were massacred in the night.

According to the man who is committed to the fight against societal abuse of women and children, especially those in Africa, “when women want to drive home a point they do many things but when it comes to the level of going naked, it means that it is a serious case and after that anything can happen, so recent religious conflicts and violence in Jos and other areas that calls for serious attention informed the theme of the exhibition.”

Continuing, the Akwa Ibom State born painter pointed out that few of the works to be displayed will depict the Jos situation while majority of the works will be about women and children. A preview of some of the works actually revealed that the works depict some of the activities of women and children. For example works like Sweet Mummy, where a woman breast feeds her child and The Garri Seller ,showing two women selling garri. Others include; African Bride, Fishing Day, Zulu Maiden, Uyal and other ones.

Speaking about his style of work, Inua pointed out that no matter how many years of practice or work put in by an artist that much will still be on realism especially on the impact it is making on women. “The style gives me satisfaction and moreover, most of my works have been sold.”

Continuing, he added that “I have realised that a lot of artists run away from the basics ,which is drawing, but they do not know that for you to be a good artists you must know how to draw. A lot of artists tend to hide in the cover of post modernism and run away from drawing. But it should not be so, drawing is very important for one to do a realist work , they should draw so that people will enjoy their works.”

The exhibition which promises to be fascinating will be graced by many art promoters and collectors , among them are: Engineer Yemisi Shyllon, of OYASAF, Chief Frank Okonta, AGAN President and Chief Rasheed Gbadamosi who will be the Special Guests of Honour and a host of other people.

Also from 12th to 19th of March, Nike Art Gallery will hold another solo exhibition by young Joseph Eze, titled Hyphen.