Alex Nwokolo is one of Nigeria’s foremost master artists and painters. With the title of his ongoing solo exhibition at the Alexis in Lagos, as Now and Beyond, he explores new experimental forms and technique as he tells Edozie Udeze in this encounter.
Alex Nwokolo is no doubt one of the leading master artists and painters of his generation. He comes out all the time with art pieces that are well ahead of others in terms of aesthetics, styles and technique. Yesterday at the Alexis Galleries, Lagos, his solo exhibition of 22 awesome art works was declared open. It was a show stopper because most of the movers and shakers of the sector were in attendance to view these wonderfully packaged works that are not just intriguing, but have plenty of the blending of draughtsmanship imbued with new experimentations. The title of the solo is Now and Beyond, a theme that is also futuristic and retrospective.
At the press briefing earlier on, Patty Chidiac – Mastrogiannis, owner and CEO of Alexis had this to say about Nwokolo: “He is a renowned master artist, no doubt. He has distinguished himself over the years. I have an affinity with him as an artist because Alexis Galleries believes in keeping in touch with its old time artists. Nwokolo has been with us for a long time. And when an artist has come thus far with you, it is easier not only to be fond of him and his classical works, but also develop an affection for him and the blend of works he does”.
Nwokolo was so forthcoming about the solo. He said:”I got the title just to let people to decide what this means to them. It sounds a bit ordinary, yet that is the intension so that people will have to flow along with it. That is why I chose now and beyond instead of masters stroke that was originally proposed. Even now and beyond was not the initial concept. When I was doing these works the first title that struck me was humanity”.
However, the more he looked at the works, the more he needed to reappraise the title. “Then I settled for now and beyond because the exhibition covers over three to four body of work. These works define my now and the future. Therefore, that is why I now say now and beyond. The pointed phrase is now, because people use the word now more often. It has been a long time phrase – art now. Since 2006, it has been a recurrent word in the art scenes all over. And so beyond equally dwells on the experimental pieces that I work on now, and hope to continue to explore”.
Topical works that dwell on now and beyond in the exhibition include End-Sars – the candle light, End-sars – the blue line. There is also the celestial and others. Most of the works are basically termed untitled. It is part of also leaving everything open for people to decipher. It is deliberate. It is typical of Nwokolo, often creating bigger suspense, allowing viewers and lovers of his works to do their own meditations, their own imaginations, or perhaps assumptions.
He went on: “I started these works since February this year. In all, I have 22 works, cutting across acrylic, mixed media and all. Now and beyond falls within this. Now, I feel comfortable with the theme, yes. They come in a series from one to four. It is so because in the first place, we use paints and colours to express ourselves. Then you use materials to express works but sometimes it will not require you to put a title there. You have just only expressed yourself”.
So, these sorts of expressions explore the human mind now and beyond. They bear images of sensitive activities around human existence, pointing also beyond the now. The stories the works narrate are poignant ideals of human foibles, and so on. The intrigues linger profusely, forcefully beckoning. For Nwokolo, visual art is meant for you to enjoy. “When you say design therefore, you come back to the elements that define the beauty of the art pieces. When it becomes difficult sometimes for you to put a title to it, then you leave it open. This is not the first time I am having some of my works left as untitled. Sometimes in 2011 I actually had an exhibition titled untitled”.
However, the current untitled stuffs relate to experimental pieces being undertaken by him as his new trend.
Some works are titled though, but Nwokolo’s ideas are fused with expectant concepts as it were. So here now, the idea of beyond becomes more explicit, clearly defined.
As usual, and typical of Alexis that believes in humanity, part of the proceeds from the show will go to Child Life-line. Indeed the NGO is working in partnership with Alexis in this regard. Child Life-line deals with the issue of improving the lot of street children in Lagos. They seek ways to reconnect them with their families. They also endeavour to get them back to school or offering them vocational training.
The exhibition which opened yesterday will run till 12th November at the Alexis from 10a.m, to 6pm daily. As usual, the event is being sponsored by the following: Pepsi, Tiger, Indomie, Mikano, The Guardian, Wazobia TV, Cool FM UPS, Haier Thermocool, Cobranet, Delta Airlines, Aina Blankson, The Homestores, Art Café, and Lost in a City, and AMG Logistics.