By Chris Onuoha

The month of February has been set aside to celebrate a master artist, teacher and administrator, Kolade Oshinowo.  Oshinowo who retired as a Chief Lecturer from the Yaba College of Technology ten years ago has over the years been a consistent feature in art circles, exhibiting and encouraging younger artists everywhere he goes. His contributions to the development of the visual arts in general and more especially the Society of Nigerian Artists (SNA) is legendary. For these and many more, the general artists’ community decided to celebrate him with series of events to mark his achievements in the industry.

Kolade Oshinowo @ 70 : The man and his art

The man, Kolade Oshinowo, has paid his dues in the industry but for him, it is still work in progress. He believes that the best of him is still not yet seen; that an artist is born to create till the sun sets. “My life is about art. From day one, I have been an artist. I am very passionate about my work, be it as a lecturer or as a studio practitioner.

“I think what I found these days that is missing in the younger generation of artists is the passion. I have this strong belief that art can be used as a means of social re-engineering in the individual successes, even community successes. Art is powerful and I have said it before that art has not been fully exploited in Nigeria. Look at all the youths that are wandering about, if some of them are gathered and exposed to various aspects of arts, whether it is drawing, painting or theater arts, they will forget about all these rascality. Once you are engaged in creative activities, you cannot have time for other things. That was why I said, during the period I was here (YABATECH), when the students were engaging in cultism, I told them they won’t find an art student there.

“At 70, I am being celebrated by others as a mark of achievement but I am still working. My life is so. People believe that I deserve this or that but all these I call work in progress. Although they have drawn programmes but I have to key-in and also advise that such programmes should not be too stressful for me.  Like I said, never wait or hesitate, get in there before it is too late. Don’t waste time. I got here when I was 25 years of age as a junior lecturer in 1973 and by 1974 to 1976 I was a full time staff. All the period, I was working with passion. I had a focus. I wanted to build a legion of successful professional men and women in the industry so that we can build respectability.

While unveiling activities to mark the celebration that kicks off on February 5 to April 6,, 2018, at the Yusuf Grillo exhibition hall, Yaba College of Technology, recently, a handful of his protégés and members of Society of Nigerian Artists (SNA) of which he was a former President, were present.  These include, Dr. Kunle Adeyemi, Dean, School of Art, Design and Printing, Yabatech as the event organizing chairman; Dr. Azeez; Dr (Mrs.) Awom; Mike Omoighe; Chinyere Ndubuisi, Head, Department of Art, Yabatech. Others are Oliver Enwonwu, President, Society of Nigerian Artists, (SNA); Dotun Alabi, Chairman, Lagos State Chapter of SNA; Idowu Sonaya, Secretary, SNA Lagos; Bunmi Davis, and others.

For Kunle Adeyemi, “Oshinowo is an enigma. I would say God just breathed life into him. Since he found himself in the education sector where I met him, apart from being artist, he is a very friendly man. Good character brought him out beyond his contemporaries.  This is a man who will encourage you to any length. There’s nothing he has that he cannot give a student, just to encourage you even in the area of profession. This entire attribute is what people now look at and say he has actually imparted their life positively. When I was a student under him, I never knew the man was taking me to a journey of life through art.”

Oliver Enwonwu in his words of encomium said, “A man like Kolade Oshinowo needs to be celebrated. Very few artists have been able to master both academics and painting practice with equal dexterity and that needs to be commended.  Not only is he an artist but an administrator and art educator. Part of his legacy in life lies in many practicing artists today who have gained so much ground. His legacy is all-embracing and he has done so well in the 70 years of creative practice and he must be celebrated.”

“I view Oshinowo as an enigma, an icon, a grandmaster artists,” said Dotun Alabi. “Most of us were trained by him. He directed us, encouraged us and supported us in the art practice and even in school. He supported us out of school. One of his regular statements that I will never forget is “Omo boy, are you painting?” that is the first thing he will tell you when he sees you in the morning. He is somebody who has practiced professionally to the core. He is highly respected, principled and does not like to see anything go wrong. He started as a secretary of SNA and became the president in the process. All his life, he has always been with SNA.  He is a father to me, and I wish him as he celebrates his birthday to have more life to do more fantastic works.”

Mike Omoighe has these to say: “We are very grateful to God because people have achieved a lot and they are not around for us to celebrate at 70. Kolade Oshinowo is somebody who has worked tenaciously to achieve this height, working from his youthful days as an artist. He worked assiduously representing the society of Nigerian artists, and did quite a lot to take art to where it is today.  We are very grateful and happy that he is still alive to be celebrated.”