By Japhet Alakam

Girl in Yellow Gele, sone of works to be exhibited

After almost nine years since he held his last solo exhibition in Nigeria, UK based Nigerian promising prolific artist ,Gbenga Orimoloye is back with another solo exhibition that seeks to draw the attention of Nigerians and Africans on the need to project their character and identity.

The exhibition tagged Iwa- exhibition of paintings by Gbenga Orimoloye is scheduled to hold at the famous Nike Art Gallery, Lekki, Lagos from the 2nd of July to the 11th of July, 2011. The artist wants to use the exhibition as an opportunity to clarify and educate Africans about their identity and the need to maintain their character.

According to him, the title of the exhibition, Iwa means character in Yoruba language and refers to a person’s character, behavioural tendencies or ways.

The artist who pointed out some of the ugly ways and manner some Africans carry on their business disclosed that the actions of very few people have made others to project Africans in a negative way and therefore, such attitudes deserve to be changed.

“The character of the average Nigerian as individuals and as a nation is very important, so we need to have a character that extol virtues, character that are not mischievous but that can show integrity.” He said.

Featuring about 53 paintings in oil, water colour and gouache with dynamic interpretation of colours, the works provide valuable insights into the working of the mind of the average artist/scholar in Diaspora. Most of the works includes; paintings of women with head ties either in single or group compositions depicting the typical Yoruba party life (Owambe) as in Iwa le wa series .

There are also works in landscape series that capture scenes in canoes at the river side and market places as in Canoes on the creek, Inspecting the day’s catch ,Market composition ,Elo ni tatase and also portraits in water colour or oil paint .

The works actually speak for themselves so that viewers and art collectors will have a lot to see and collect as the show opens for public on the 2nd of July. Some of the works to be exhibited include: Omo danfo; Girl in Yellow gele; After the morning showers; Girl, mother and umbrella; Market composition, At home 1; Elo ni tatase; Egbon ati aburo; Iwa le wa; Canoes on the creek etc.