Signature Beyond Art Gallery recently hosted three artists in a joint exhibition that showcased contemporary life and cultural identity through beautiful sculptures and paintings.
TWO sculptors and a painter lit up Signature Beyond Art Gallery, Ikoyi, Lagos, from October 19 to 26, with expressive works in a joint exhibition titled ‘Interwoven Forms’.
The show featuring sculptors Ebong Ekwere, Alli Raheem, and painter Adeniyi Olanrewaju showcases their interpretations of contemporary life and cultural identity through beautiful sculptures and paintings.
‘Interwoven Forms’ is also a celebration of cross-generational collaboration, as Ekwere’s practice dates to the 1980s, while Raheem and Olanrewaju began practising in the 21st century. Indeed, some of Ekwere’s contemporaries mentored the young artists.
Ekwere and Raheem both explore the transformative nature of wood, shaping it into evocative forms that bridge tradition and contemporary aesthetics in the show.
Raheem’s works are complex, intertwined figures and geometric motifs that speak to connection, identity, and resilience themes. These include ‘Kiss the Bride’, ‘Ego’ (Igberaga), ‘Ojukoro’, ‘Daydream’, ‘Yinmu’, ‘Aromatic II’, ‘Thought’ and ‘Ruminating’ all made with stained apa wood.
Ekwere’s elegant and abstract sculptures, with their smooth surfaces and elongated silhouettes, convey a sense of movement and serenity. He captures fluidity and grace in his eight sculptures in the exhibition, ‘Perspective 1 &11’, ‘Bond’, ‘Elegance I, II & III’, ‘Masculinity’ and ‘Man’, affirming his mastery of form.
The duo present a compelling conversation in wood, where fluidity meets structure, and abstraction engages with realism.
Olanrewaju innovatively uses geometric patterns and forms to create textured compositions that reflect on identity, human connection, and urban life in paintings featured in the show. These include ‘Black Beauty’, ‘Lagos Traffic’, ‘Brother’s Keeper’, ‘Snap Chat Babe’, ‘Street Scene’, ‘Disable with Hope’ and ‘CMS Lagos’. All his 13 social commentary works in the exhibition were made between the last year and the current one.
He shared more about his creative process; the Lagos State Government ban on commercial motorcyclists inspired ‘Bike Riders’, and he wanted to encourage physically challenged people with ‘Disable with Hope’.
“I felt I couldn’t let the ban on commercial motorcyclists go just like that without documenting it, hence my decision to paint ‘Bike Riders’. People rode motorcycles indiscriminately, even on the expressway and were involved in accidents. I should lend a voice to curb the practice, hence the painting. ‘Disable with Hope’ shows people playing basketball in a wheelchair to show their ability in their disability. You can never write anyone off.”
Olanrewaju further explained, “As an artist, I strive to capture the beauty and complexity of the world through my creations. Using colour, texture, and form, I aim to evoke emotion and spark imagination in those who view my work. My pieces often explore themes of nature, identity, and the human experience. I believe these are universal concepts that connect us all. With each brushstroke, I hope to leave a lasting impression and offer a unique perspective on the world around us.”
Raheem, a graduate of Federal Polytechnic, Auchi, who also paints but is more comfortable with sculpting, explained his creative process this way: “My wood sculptural pieces are created in a stylized form that I have developed over time. I constantly sketch to capture depth and ideas, which are then translated into detailed maquettes before being transferred onto the wood log. My inspiration comes from nature and the striking things around me, mostly fuelled by my imagination and thoughts. I am passionate about working with wood because of its unpredictability and the curiosity sparked by the natural grain patterns.”
The taciturn Ekwere, on his part, holds that “though art reflects our innermost thoughts and beliefs, it is also safe to say that it is an expression of our personality.”
Undoubtedly, the trio fully expressed their personalities in the exquisite works showcased in ‘Interwoven Forms’, even as they all look forward to individual shows soonest.
READ ALSO: 2027 general elections contest between APC, Nigerians — Gov Makinde
and then