BY JAPHET ALAKAM

After his last solo exhibition in Nigeria in 1991 and series of exhibitions in his United States base , one of Nigeria’s leading artists in the international scene, Prof Dele Jegede last week broke his long absence from the home front with his successful hosting of a solo exhibition in Lagos, Nigeria .

The exhibition titled ; PEREGRINATIONS, an exhibition of Paintings and Drawings which opened on April 30th at Nike Art Gallery, Lekki, Lagos will run till May 12th . The exhibition which could be described as Jegede’s home coming afforded art enthusiasts, art patrons and lovers of art especially his huge fans, another opportunity to viewing the visual art productions of the 1973 First Class graduate of Fine Art of the famous Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, who is currently Professor of Art at Miami University, Oxford, Ohio.

Featuring about 48 works of paintings and drawings that were done from 1994 when he went on his voluntary exile till 2011, Jegede through the body of works displayed on the ground flour of the gallery showed how he explores his painterly effect in resolving aesthetic issues.

He showed through the canvases the true testament of the various conditions that agitated his mind as shown in most of the works, especially on the waste of the nation’s resources in Abuja and the troubled Niger Delta that have made oil blessing, a curse on the Nigerian nation.

The works displayed include: Niger Delta: Apocalypse, Niger Delta: Shell-Shocked, Niger Delta Militancy 1-3, Abuja ER, Abuja Charade, Abuja Masquerade, and others. From another angle also, Jegede highlighted the potentials in the socio-cultural values of the country as shown in such works like, Gelede, Tete- a-tete, One World, Ancestral Symbols, Esu Ibeji, Just Do it, Hoosier Daddy, 25 Cent, Yes We Can, Peregrination etc.

Others are State of Anomie and Crossroads where he also expressed his impressionistic contents.

Speaking about the exhibition, Jegede who disclosed that the idea of having this solo exhibition in Nigeria was hatched in 2009 when he began to contemplate the cause of his silence; however stated that his inability to host exhibitions in Nigeria was due to many factors which include; the fact that he is not based in Nigeria, his teaching job and the cost of bringing his works home.

Speaking on the state of art in Nigeria, the art historian said that there should be proper sensitisation on the part of the government, individuals and those who are well endowed in the task of promoting the arts.

According to him,“this exhibition, “Peregrinations,” speaks to my status as an émigré with very strong roots to my homeland. The body of work in this exhibition represents a snapshot of my state of mind at different times over the last two decades.”

Continuing, he added that the art works fall into three distinct but not necessarily equal categories. The first category, he said, consists of pieces that were done soon after moving to the United States and are termed, a celebration of Africanism. This category of works, he said, deals with the state of the African Diaspora through cultural and spiritual cosmology.

The works in the category: State of Anomie, a 1994 collage on paper from the Joe Obiago Collection, which recalls the artist’s illustrious career as Art Editor of the now defunct, Daily Times and Crossroads.

The second category consist of paintings that explore Jegede’s fascination with hip-hop culture. According to him, “this phase of my work is in tandem with my interest in Africanism in that the paintings represent a visual artist’s de-construction of a performative genre in American popular culture.

For some one who claims that “My art is cathartic. It is an averment of my personal aesthetics:

an articulation of the pangs and anxieties, the socio-cultural bemusement and contradictions, and the political conundrums and economic predilections that have continued to assault my sensibilities as a Diasporic citizen.”

The third phase of the work which started in 2009 consists of works that speak about reflections on self-exile and the things that happened in the country during such period. They include the Abuja Masquerade, Abuja Charade and Abuja ER.

The exhibition which was declared open by one of the art collectors and organiser of the just concluded Yusuf Grillo Art festival, Chief Rasheed Gbadamosi was graced by art patrons/collectors, artists, diplomats, art scholars and students. Among them were: Dr Bruce Onabrakpeya, Engr. Yemisi Shyllon, Chief Joe Musa, Prof. Adetoro, Dr Kunle Filani, Odimayo Seinde, Kolade Oshinowo, Chief Frank Okonta, Prof. Duro Oni, Prof. Pat Utomi, Kathleen Stafford and Josy Ajiboye.