THE Ondo State Goodwill Ambassador for Environment, Ms Olapeju Olayemi’s environmental art initiative, titled ‘No To Extinction,’ or L’Extinction took centre stage during a Lagos art preview recently, as a scrapped Skyworth Television screen was elevated to priceless canvas to preview America Eagle coins thorn carving designed to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the United States independence coming up in June.
The art preview, chaired by Dr Funso Esan, a former Ondo State Commissioner For Environment, was to draw inspiration from how the America government revived Bald Eagle from the verge of extinction in order to save Africa elephants from extinction.
While delivering his keynote address, Dr Esan urged the African Union to adopt a strong policy for African wildlife conservation like what United States of America did to restore the Bald Eagles, which was once teetering on the brink of extinction.
He lamented that both African Bush Elephant and African Forest Elephant were decimated by habitat destruction and illegal shooting, which was causing their population to decline.
He said: “The thorn carving coins artwork we are showcasing, which features the stately image of the US Bald Eagle, which is glued on the screen of discarded Skyworth television screen, is to project both waste to wealth initiative and how wildlife that are at the risk of extinction can be revived.
Meanwhile, Ms Olapeju said the artwork was created as part of the ‘No To Extinction,’ or ‘L’Extinction’ series and that the eagle coin thorn carving was specifically designed for the commemoration of the USA at 250th anniversary on June 4.
She explained that the artwork is aimed at addressing the near extinction of African Elephants, by drawing inspiration from how the endangered bald eagles were revived in America, as well as to promote waste to wealth artistry and resuscitate thorn carving.
She complained that the trees that produced the thorns used for carving the American coins have almost disappeared from forests due to the effects of deforestation.
“It took almost two years to gather the few thorns, which myself and my fellow artists, Mrs Bolajoko Ayeni and Mr Charles Olulaja Akeredolu, son of thorn carving inventor, the late Chief J. D. Akeredolu, are using for reinventing thorn carving.”
Both Mrs Ayeni and Mr Akeredolu admitted that there is the need to save the environment from total destruction, which will definitely affect wildlife.
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