There may be a notion that these works of art are probably pictures but erase that thought because they are paintings, hyper realistic ones that feels so real ,the crowd here can’t resist to take a closer look at the works on display, works done by 10 talented young hands that put the d in the details. The medley of seeing all sorts of art in the same room inspired the theme for the show, individually they are strong but coming together brings so much energy into the room. The Omenka gallery is collaborating with the Frot Foundation to support these artists so the world can know that the future of the creative industry is bright. They work with charcoal, graphite, acrylic, pastel, oil and wood on over 30 works of art with titles such as famished, message from the sea, engrossed, story from April, it’s left to you just to mention a few. The artists talk about what inspired them to do this They are not oblivious of what’s happening in their environment, so they talk about the issues they are passionate about the only way they know how. The exhibition titled insanity is the first in the series that’s according to the organisers as they have a mission to keep the arts scene vibrant and alive. And after getting a taste of what’s more to come, the audience will surely be looking forward to the next series. The signature gallery is filled with works of art done by contemporary artist, Nyemike Onwuka, some paintings, drawings and installations all looking at one issue, slavery. But he’s exploring this issue from a different perspective, not from the days of yore but modern bondage and he speaks first hand to those who have lived to tell their tale which is reflected in the works seen here. He also points fingers at those who started the fire, the slave drivers who under the guise of modernity abuse those under their care and put them in bondage. This installation titled gridlock, vividly captures this message, Nyemike adds colour to the cage which is surrounded by chains and clothes of children, creating an imagery of a happy sad moment If that does make you quiver at the thought of what’s really happening right now then this series takes a more subtle approach to a deep and depressing topic. The title match with the drawings, we speak, we see, we hear and we conquer. The artist uses two subjects to capture this issue women and children, this artist has always had a knack for reproducing great expressions of the female figure in all he beauty and glory but not this time, now he sees her a bit differently, is all that beauty only skin deep, else why are these children suffering? Who bore them? Who makes them go out and trade? Who is not taking care of them? These and many more questions is what’s plaguing this artists mind and he releases them using earthy tones with images on large canvases so there's no doubt about the subject its crystal clear ,in other instances some black and white drawings to installations. According to the artist, he’s not alluding to the fact that all of them are bad eggs but there’s no doubt that the bad ones exist and need to be removed. With Exodus, the artist is adding his voice to those asking for the need to change society for the better so it’s more than art for art sake, art should make a difference and cause people to think and do things properly.
on over 30 works of art, with titles such as Famished, Message from the Sea, Engrossed,
Story from April.
It's left to you just to mention a few.
The title of my work is Strength in Distress.
It actually explains the people behind the scene, like those people that walk tirelessly
behind the scene that we actually don't notice them.
They are walking tirelessly and they are kind of the people that are invisible in our society.
That's actually a painter.
So we know sometimes there are buildings, like we see buildings, there are people who
paint the work, who walk tirelessly overnight.
We really don't see them, we don't notice them, but they are walking behind the scene
to attain such great results.
So sometimes people only recognize the owner of the houses.
If you look closely to the work, there's sweat draining down of the skin.
So that actually signifies the strength.
And also the hat he's actually wearing, it's more like a shelter from the sun to keep him
walking continuously like that.
This is titled Inclusion, Dissolution and Famished.
The works have a very, very unique way of artistic expression.
The reason why it's titled The Reverse Effect is because of the meaning of each work is
in its reverse effect.
It has a reverse meaning and we're having these works express deep emotions of anger,
hunger, thirst and fear.
These emotions are emotions that are not really appreciated on a daily basis.
People express these emotions.
It is part of our human nature to have these emotions and, you know, people don't really
appreciate these emotions when they see them, but they are emotions and I believe that these
emotions are supposed to be expressed and appreciated.
The artists talk about what inspired them to do this.
I've been drawing since I was the age of, what, 11, right from my primary five, that
was when I started drawing.
So I'm always fascinated by what my surroundings, environment, people I come across and what
body languages.
These drawings were inspired by photographs and a little bit of mixture of artistic expression.
So yes, I personally take my portraits myself so that I can get the right and exact emotions
myself so that I won't have difficulty in expressing the artistic meaning of the work.
I'm also inspired by my models in the work.
I have three models consisting of very dark skin.
They have a very dark skin and those dark skin, I decided to use dark skin models because
there's this strong expression that the melanin in the skin of black people actually gives.
Actually, it tends to give the meaning of my work a deeper expression.
So I feel like, yes, using dark skin will actually be able to portray my message to the people.
They're not oblivious of what's happening in their environment.
So they talk about the issues they are passionate about the only way they know how.
I'm a girl that has always been fascinated about tradition, now values and culture.
I love to, you know, I love my tradition so much.
And I love everything that has to do with natives so much.
Because I'm a fan of traditional values and culture.
So through my arts and through my voice as an artist, I want to still keep that value within us.
I want people to still appreciate where they come from.
That tradition, our value, culture, norms and everything that has to do with us, our native self.
The exhibition, titled Insanity, is the first in the series that's according to the organisers
as they have a mission to keep the arts scene vibrant and alive.
It's away from the norm, from the usual oil on canvas, from the usual marketplace, from the usual landscape.
If you look at it, this is hyper-realism. This is putting talents into real test.
And I must tell you, I'm impressed with what I'm seeing and I'm sure you're impressed too.
So that's why we call it Insanity. It's away from the norm.
The message is very simple. We need to continuously do our best to preserve our heritage, cultural and art heritage.
And the private sector needs to come out to support this and promote the young talents that we have in our society.
And after getting a taste of what's more to come, the audience will surely be looking forward to the next series.
Such brilliance. Sometimes I wonder what goes on in their heads, how they create such wonders.
It amazes me all the time. And there's so much more where that came from, but this artist has decided to go solo.
Details of that in a moment. Join us again.
While at the university, he moved from the phonetic department to the extramural studies department.
There, he became interested in traditional Yoruba culture and art.
Though a teacher at Ibadan, he ventured beyond it, living in ancient cities to learn more about the Yoruba communities.
In 1957, he founded the magazine Black Orpheus, a name inspired by a French intellectual, Jean-Paul Satere.
The first African literary journal in England, it quickly became a rendezvous for publishing contemporary Nigerian authors.
