Rothko: IK Dairo’s grandson announces self with solo debut

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2 years ago

Red Line, Blue Line and Green

A grandson of the late I.K. Dairo, Kola, recently had his first solo exhibition at the Signature Beyond Art Gallery, Ikoyi.

His grandfather was a music maestro, but he is expressing his creativity in a different art form. The late Isaiah Kehinde Dairo was highly talented. He was renowned within and outside Nigeria and received a Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) honour for his accomplishments in music. He continues to occupy a special place in the pantheon of Nigerian juju musicians decades after his passing in 1996.

Rather than follow in his grandfather’s footsteps, Kola Dairo has found his calling in visual art as a painter. On Saturday, October 14, at the Signature Beyond Art Gallery, Ikoyi, Lagos, he gave an insight into his creative world with his first-ever solo exhibition entitled ‘Kola Dairo, Rothko’.

The show, named after American abstract expressionist painter Mark Rothko, had been three years in the making and was not an imitation of the famous artist.

Dairo, a Visual Art graduate of the Yaba College of Technology, explained: “The genesis of Kola Dairo, Rothko is rooted in my profound connection to the natural world and my admiration for the artistry of Rothko. This exhibition serves as a jubilant celebration of artistic influence, where two distinct artistic realms converge on the canvas. My art is an immersive sensory experience, inviting viewers to explore the entire spectrum of human emotions. The interplay of colours in my work oscillates between dynamic and serene, mirroring the highs and lows of life itself. Through my art, I endeavour to transport the observer to a realm of introspection, where they can delve into the deepest recesses of their souls.”

Featuring works including ‘Red Line, Blue Line and Green’ and ‘Yellow Ochre, Purple and Red’, ‘Rothko’ is a mesmerizing landscape of colour and form, where African heritage meets the spirits of Rothko’s iconic colour fields. The paintings are both vibrant and serene.

Interestingly, Dairo wasn’t familiar with Rothko when he embraced abstractionism. He loves nature and started using the pointillism technique to create his colour fills before discovering the late artist. “I discovered that my work is similar to his, and when I researched him and his works, I saw that they were always flat. He used paints; sometimes a roller to paint on his canvas and sometimes brush, so I just tried to create something different using the pointillism techniques.”

Dairo started with pencil works but graduated to abstract paintings as he gained more experience and incorporated more of the environment into his works.

He said, “When the understanding started coming in full, and when the meditation started coming at large, I started seeing many things I had not seen before. Anytime I walk in the street or go around, I used to see deteriorating walls, sometimes peeling paint on the wall. Sometimes, it could be a water spray on the ground or a splash. Anytime I see all these, they create forms.

“Though I had seen these ever since, my heart was not capturing them, but it got to the point that when it did, I started thinking differently. I started seeing art differently. Most of the works in this show were created from the natural world. Some were from deteriorating walls and water splash on the ground. At first, I didn’t call it abstract, but I just wanted to express my mind. I wanted to create what I’m seeing outside on my canvas or paper, but when people see it, they call it abstract, and I agree that it is an abstract.”

As he continues his arts journey, Kola appreciates the pace-setting role of his grandfather, adding that though he is a visual artist, the apple has not fallen far off the tree.

“It doesn’t mean I should also sing because my grandfather was a musician. You can be a star in any career, acting, music or art, depending on where your energy lies and what you love. The I.K. Dairo legacy of creative expression is still alive, not in songs alone.”

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