The Content: Rich painting offerings across generations

The exhibition featuring three generations of artists is a well-packaged show that has attracted art lovers.

FROM little acorns, giant oaks grow. When ‘The Content’ exhibition debuted in 2017, one of its objectives was bringing arts to the mainland and offering more value to patrons of luxury homeware store, Adam & Eve that birthed the idea. Then (and till the moment), most major galleries were in Victoria Island, Ikoyi and Lekki. At the same time, significant shows also happened at these locations.

Four years after that debut, the Mrs Modupe Ogunlesi helmed store has not wavered in that goal. On Friday, November 5, ‘The Content: 2nd Harmattan Edition’ opened at the expansive compound of Adam &Eve in Ikeja GRA, Lagos. However, it was not a single treat but a triple one accompanied by a ‘Men Who Cook’ competition and Festival of Nine Lessons that featured eminent Nigerians on November 28.

Curated by painter Lekan Onabanjo who also appeared as a guest alongside master artist Dr Bruce Onobrakpeya, ‘The Content’, which closes today, features Hamid Ibrahim, Segun Aiyesan, Wande George, Clara Aden, Emeka Nwagbara, and Elizabeth Ekpetorson.

Indeed, there is nothing not to like about ‘The Content’ with the paintings on display. Each artist showing five works, ‘The Content’ is a rich visual feast that wows the viewer. Onobrakpeya’s five plastographs comprising ‘Dance to Enchanting Songs’,’ Dance to the Red Shadows’, and ‘Gala Day under the River’ are, of course, a beauty to behold. The master’s delicate painted etchings don’t cease to thrill.

The two ladies in the show, Aden and Ekpetorson, justified their inclusion with their exciting works. Aden’s two monochromes, ‘See Wetin I Carry’ (charcoal on canvas) and ‘Dignity in Labour’ (charcoal and acrylic paint on canvas), are worth seeing. It’s the same with her colour paintings, ‘Debbie Baby Doll’ and ‘Caring and Capable’. Ekpetorson, who is carving a niche for herself using lines for bold, figurative works, continues to polish her craft with ‘The Epistemophile’ and ‘Indefatigable’, among others.

Aiyesan’s human figures are striking. Ibrahim’s ‘handscape’ sees him give prominence to the human hand in his five paintings. A particularly striking one is a boy taking his hand to his mouth. George’s works are simple, but profound having found a comfortable niche between cubism and minimalism.

Onabanjo’s works, done in his new style, ‘pixelization of colours’, sees him embedding figures in a backdrop of thin vertical lines. They also hint at an artist constantly reinventing himself.  Famous for painting landscapes and sceneries, he’s now painting figures, specifically portraits of women, to celebrate their achievements. “There’s nothing you can do in this world without women. If you look around, women have taken over the world. And I give it to them,” he offered.

Two of the works, ‘Ibi lo maabami’ (You will come back and meet me) of a semi-nude lady in her bedroom eagerly expecting her husband but becoming upset that he was taking too long, is humorous. At the same time, ‘The Smile’ also captivates.

Explaining the selection of artists featured in the show, Onabanjo disclosed that it was based on the response of collectors to images of the works shared among patrons of Adam & Eve. “We didn’t just select artists based on what you can offer. It was based on the response of collectors. Their responses determined the selection. You sent in images of your works, and we then spread them among our collectors. We collated the results and then informed the artists because what’s the point of displaying works that you cannot sell at the end of the day. This was what happened.”

He added that there was no general theme for this edition of the show, only the desire to showcase fresh artists preparatory to the opening of a proper gallery at Adam & Eve.

“There was no general theme. For a while, we stopped before deciding to continue again. So basically, there’s no theme. We just wanted fresh artists. But, eventually, we’re going to open a gallery called ‘Content Gallery’ next year, but before then, we will celebrate women. We are having a show featuring six or seven young female artists in March.”

YOU SHOULD NOT MISS THESE HEADLINES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE

We Have Not Had Water Supply In Months ― Abeokuta Residents

In spite of the huge investment in the water sector by the government and international organisations, water scarcity has grown to become a perennial nightmare for residents of Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital. This report x-rays the lives and experiences of residents in getting clean, potable and affordable water amidst the surge of COVID-19 cases in the state…

Selfies, video calls and Chinese documentaries: The things you’ll meet onboard Lagos-Ibadan train

The Lagos-Ibadan railway was inaugurated recently for a full paid operation by the Nigerian Railway Corporation after about a year of free test-run. Our reporter joined the train to and fro Lagos from Ibadan and tells his experience in this report.…