The Third Episode by Stanley Dudu shows that his mastery of his strokes in pastel is growing; his thematic focus, even sharper and more appealing. What is more? He introduced colours to his monochrome drawings in Next Episode in his second solo exhibition.
The intensity of colours in his works are much stronger now, and that is what has given birth to the theme of his third solo exhibition. Next Episode is sequel to his first solo show, New Episode. Another reason why Dudu chose this theme is to create continuity for the two exhibitions “because there is a sort of relationship between the two phases (New Episode, Next Episode and Third Episode),” he explained.
His rendition has also changed because he has better works now, but the medium and the subject matters have not changed. The show which opened last week Saturday is sill ongoing at Alexis Galleries in Lagos.
What is onview is not just mere drawings, but drawings with touch of colours that put a twist to his works, “even as much as I would like to create an identity for myself, in terms of maintaining monochrome,” he asserted during the opening of the exhibition sponsored by Pepsi, Maikano, Delta Airline, Amarula, Nederburg, Wazobia TV, Chocolate Royal and Art Café.
“Dudu is a realist, his works make me cry, they depict everyday activities and everyday people of Nigeria. You could see market scene, children playing and pretending to be mummy and daddy. Very emotional drawings, they are the type of pieces you cannot resist,” said the curator of the exhibition and the gallery owner, Patty Chidiac-Mastrogiannis.
“He is now going through a more powerful series, a darker series — darker as in pigment, in charcoal, more expression and much better proportion,” Chidiac-Mastrogiannis asserted, “if you love realism like me, you cannot resist the works’ from Dudu and I promise you, you would be glad you did.”
Dudu is an Auchi Polytechnic alumnus. He graduated with Ordinary National Diploma in general art in 2003, and Higher National Diploma in painting in 2006 respectively. His outstanding performance earned him excellence with distinction as the overall best student. After his short spell at the national youth service scheme, he has been practicing as a full-time professional studio artist in Lagos since 2008.
His figurative expressions exude love and life. Intimate private lives of women and children in southern interiors have always provided prolific source of subject material for his art more any other inspiration. Dexterously, he renders his narrative portrayals chiefly in charcoals, pastels, oils and acrylics, through which he employs his adept use of chiaroscuro, lines, and sparing use of colours as an elemental instrument of style in capturing the very essence of fleeting moments.
By virtue of his impressionistic manner of rendition in grey scales, his works have found him recognition as they were considered unique and refreshing at a time when coloured paintings became too rampart. He has participated in over 30 group shows with several prizes and awards which include the 1st prize in Nigerian Undergraduate Art Competition (2006) organised by Pat Kairos Foundation, 2nd prize in “Nigeria’s constitutional Evolution” organised by Nigerian Institute Of Advanced Legal Studies (2009),2nd prize “Chronicles of a Great National at 50” organised by Nigerian Breweries/African Artist Foundation (2010), Grand prize: Celebrating 50-5 Independence and Rapprochement Spain – Nigeria, organised by Embassy of Spain (2010), and Best drawing prize Being Young; organised by Life in My City Art Festivals/Rocana Advertising Agencies (2012).
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