Four award-winning photographers have held a group exhibition of contemporary fine art entitled: Playful Perspective at the MadHouse Gallery, University of Lagos (UNILAG).
They are: Olusolape Awe, Awoyomi Ayodeji, Sulaiman Abubakar Sulaiman and Rahimat Onize Shaibu.
The event anchored by Oyomi Arts featured five arworks per artist.
The curator, Awoyomi, said: “In a world often defined by seriousness and constraint, my photography seeks to liberate the imagination through a playful perspective. By capturing ordinary objects and scenes in unexpected ways, I invite viewers to reconsider their own perceptions and find joy in the unexpected.
“Through the use of unusual angles, creative compositions and a touch of humour, I aim to challenge conventional notions of beauty and aesthetics,” adding that his photos are a celebration of the human spirit’s ability to find wonder and delight in the most ordinary of circumstances.
Sola, also a lawyer, said he delved into photography in 2019. He said passion drove him into photography, when he was at the Law School in Kano. He tells stories through the mixed media. One of his works on display is, |”No Mala”, a series of fine art photographs, which utilises the captivating patterns created by linear glass prisms to explore the unhidden depths of human identity. “No Mala”, which means “No Evil” is a visual exploration of superficial human physical features through unconventional naturally occurring means”.
Abubakar explained that a photo, which shows a man carrying a load of basket on her shoulder, shows how we struggle through life to fend for our families. “It shows what men go through,” he further said.
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The other works are “Graceful Balance: A tribute to tradition”; “The Joint Hands”, “The Infinite Journey”, “Language of Souls”, and The Hooded Figure (“Intitulada”). “The Joint Hands” is a photo of some men holding hands which shows that there is strength in unity. “I strive to make people happy and how they can be of benefit to each other,” the artist said.
Rahimat, the only female artist among the exhibitors, had “Faces of Me” as one of her works. She said through them, she aims ”to inspire viewers to see beyond the surface, to celebrate the extraordinary and to honour the unseen talents that make our world more vibrant and diverse”. She also said “her selective use of colours stands for the talents that stand out even when surrounded by a world that can feel overwhelmingly grey. It is a statement about the power of creativity to shine through demanding appreciation and acknowledgement, even in the most muted environments”.
Awoyomi advised young artists to get their acts right whether in photography or elsewhere. “No matter the challenges, create something,” he advised, adding: “What you create today, may have a telling effect in generations to come. When you dream it, you act on it. We are from Nigeria. Today, we are in the United Kingdom’ from where we exhibit in Nigeria.”
A visitor at the exhibition, Mr. Jaboda Emmanuel, an artist, praised Awoyomi. “The works are motivating. I would like to take photographs like these. Like that one, ‘Bashorun’, which shows that women have leaders who they respect. The photo is good; it depicts life. They are amazing prints; so far, so good. I will exhibit my photos some day,” he pledged.
