As four promising young artists showcased their paintings and drawings in Lagos last week, they took time out to speak on the theme The Future is Now. Edozie Udeze reports
For two weeks at the Thought Pyramid Gallery, Lagos, four outstanding young artists who have proved their mettle in the contemporary art scene were on display. Their works showed a set of artists who are ready to move the world with their special works of paintings and drawings. Their works dwelt on contemporary issues and themes on the Nigerian and African scenes. This was essentially why their exhibition was titled The Future is Now.
The artists included Orlu Prince Oganze, Ekpetorson Elizabeth, Akintomide Aluko and Brown Dodd. Each came with array of works hinging on the future and how today can easily dictate the pace of tomorrow. Most of the artists learnt at the feet of the older ones and were able to show that every art space can be occupied by artists who are deeply committed.
In his foreword to the programme, Jeff Ajueshi, the owner of the gallery informed that there is a compelling need in Nigeria for alternative art spaces that bridge the gap between commercial galleries and traditional art institutions. These spaces enable artists and curators to innovate with shows that do not fit into the boundaries of the existing art market. The spaces also enable us to have new ideas to be incubated and nurtured where there are no boundaries between art, craft, design and thoughts and where thinkers will meet to dialogue on new directions for African art”. Ajueshi said.
The works basically called on the younger ones to rise to the occasion by doing their best to conquer the world. The use of vivid colours, the introduction of thematic issues and topical matters to situate the paintings and drawings helped to bring out the total beauty of The Future is Now. These depicted broad lines and motifs which highlighted the need to do things that should help the society move forward.
In Portrait Of A Saint, for instance, Akintomide showed a little boy in quest of his future. It is a drawing showing this boy who looks confused, whose future looks uncertain, bleak, if you like. In it, the artist highlights the nature of a society when little or no time is given to the younger people by leaders. Yet, where it is so, the youths should hold the bull by the horn. They have to endeavour to wrestle power and wealth from the older ones. Here the theme of The Future is Now becomes quite logical, meaningful and effective.
He uses this to preserve memories, dwelling on issues that seem to be endemic, problems that have refused to peter out. It is a form of recycling old tales, showing how social issues can be given new life through works of art. Akintomide’s works evoke emotions, life and drama. This also shows in the Betrothal Series where he addresses the issue of child marriage. It is a problem that can only be resolved when parents decide to send their female children to school, allow them to grow, to mature into adulthood before initiating them into the foibles of life itself. You don’t even need to force her into early marriage or abduct her into doing so. This painting is explicit on this and warns of consequences of our action or inaction in ensuring a better future for the girl-child.
In his works, Ozange who learnt at the feet of Asidere did not disappoint. Once you set your eyes on his works, you see the striking resemblance of Duke Asidere’s signature. Ozange who is based in Port Harcourt, Rivers State accepted the fact that Asidere tutored him both in content and style. He is prolific and versatile with a broad oeuvre that spans many adventurous themes. These are themes that espouse the viewpoints of an artist. His restiveness shows more in his constant quest for new ways of expressions. One of his works titled ahead of times, shows a man in deep thought. It is acrylic on paper with bright colours to depict that the future is not completely bleak. The eyes are bright, glitter to register hope and promise. Ozange is totally expressive, his colours speak volumes about the themes he handles. He loves large frames that leave nothing to imagination.
Ozange also brings his own large frame to juxtapose his artworks with broad strokes that capture and enrapture. You needn’t go far to see his love for life, where you ought to wear perpetual smiles on your face. The smiles enliven the works of Ozange whose world-view is known to be broader and wider. He told the reporter on the sidelines that these works depict who we are. He agreed that they are broad, larger in most situations and purposely meant to buttress that not all that we see today that are the totality of life. In other words, the past and the future are mere illusion. They may not exist, yet these works say: “Tomorrow is always waiting to come around the corner. Yes around that corner are shadows, never to have light shed upon them because time is always now”, so said Joy Banks, the curator of the exhibition.
Both Dodd and Ekpetorson also showed profound dexterity as well. This was why Asidere cautioned the artists that they have their works to do. In a statement, he said: “the artist has to grow his work. Growth is deliberate and artists should work at it. Then the need for direction and clear purpose every time the artist creates cannot be overemphasized. Art has developed along these principles over the ages. I have looked at these works. They have unique ways of processing their thoughts. These thoughts are the foundation on which these works have been created and the paintings done to pursue these thoughts”.
In conclusion, Asidere, one of the best painters of his generation posited: “let us therefore engage these works. The future is now”. As the future artists who engaged the world today showcased their works, they did not forget that every artist has his own voice; his own peculiar way of projecting his ideas. This was therefore the pivot point of the theme, the future is now, the art works that have proved that the younger artists are ready to hold their own, ready to surpass their forebears.