By Japhet Alakam

AFTER their successful outing in 2010, some members of the Iponri Art Studios, Lagos and few other artists of likemind are set to paint the nation’s seat of power, Abuja with incredible works of art.

Ecstacy, one of the works to be displayed

The high profile exhibition which will hold at Thoughts Pyramid Art Gallery, one of the leading art galleries with a global vision in Abuja , tagged, Today in History : A group exhibition of Paintings and Mixed Media. It will open from 22nd to the 28th of October, 2015.

The exhibition which is geared towards awakening the sensibilities of art connoisseurs was billed to hold on October 1st to commemorate Nigeria’s independence , but was shifted due to logistic problems, and will feature about 40 incredible works of 8 budding professional artists who have made their marks in the art scene.

They include four from the Iponri Art Studios, Lagos and four others from across the nation that will add strenght to them.

As usual, the group who are household names in the Lagos art scene with the able support of art collector/promoter Sammy Olagbaju, will use the Abuja show to project and promote their works and at the same time share with the art lovers about what they have been doing and what they intend to do in future.

The exhibiting artists are: Bede Umeh, Bimbo Adenugba, Kehinde Oso, Sanusi Abdulahi, Gerald Chukwuma, Uche Joel Chima, Bolaji Ogunwo and Tayo Olayode, the co ordinator. Some of the works to be shown are ; Green for sale , Fragment of thought and Ecstacy by Bimbo Adenugba ; Tussie, Bata and Our Domain by Sanusi; Delegates, Atime to ponder, Adaobi and Adaku by Bede Umeh; Season of Time, Tree of Love by Gerald Chukwuma;Etiolated, Rich Dad Poor Children, Out of the Blue by Bolaji Ogunwo among others.

Speaking with art writers in Lagos recently, the coordinator, Tayo Olayode who disclosed that the idea came up when the Iponri Studios artists who have been doing it on their own for years decided to collaborate with other artists that can add strenght to them, however stated that it is not all about marketing but to make a statement about their works in the seat of power.

According to him, the occasion which promises to be great will be chaired by Chief Sammy Olagbanju, while art lovers, chief executive officers, corporate organisations are expected to be there. He also disclosed that plans are in the pipeline to take the exhibition to Dubai and New York in the future.

Calibre of artists

Speaking, one of the Iponri Studios Artists, Bede Umeh stated that “this is not the first time the members of Iponri Studios are collaborating with other artists, but that this one is to make it bigger with the calibre of artists involved. We want to make a big noise so that people will know that Iponri Studios is still on.”

For Gerald Chukwuma, I saw their exhibition last year and it was great. The pedigree of the artists are high so I decided to be part of it. I love their idea of trying to give artists a space to exhibit.

For Bimbo Adenugba who has worked with some of the Iponri group said that he saw their Ghana exhibition and it was great, so the collaboration will be good as it will make it loud. Continuing, he stated that it is not just the aesthetics,it is about their impact to the culture and others.

Speaking on the choice of Abuja and Thought Pyramid gallery, the group opined that there is need to take it outside Lagos , hence the choice of Thought Pyramid gallery,the only gallery that has the space to accomodate all the works of the artists.