Contemporary artists have in recent times showed ingenuity and creativity which has kept on revolving aroundmany global issues of interest entertaining art aficionados and taking them round strokes of lines ,hue and forms. more...
Imaginative creations are meant to express some form of beauty or pass a message directly or indirectly to all who come in contact. By strokes and skills of the artist, Visual representations which used to be still life, portraits, landscape and seascape were turned around to include more interesting themes pulsating with the reality of the world as it is today.There have been fusions of art on the runway, arts on prints and many more mixes.
Following the trend, Tony Nsofor and Ibe Ananaba will be showing recent works at Temple Muse from November 2nd, 2015. 49 paintings and two mixed media works by both artist focuses on migration, the social media imposed rift on inter -personal communication and stage moments of the legendary Kalakuta King, Fela Anikulapo kuti.
Currently the Art Director for Insight Communications Ltd, a fashion Illustrator, an experienced cartoonist, graphic designer and painter, Ibe Ananaba , an alumnus of the Institute of Management & Technology (IMT) in Enugu presents his artistic prowess in 28 works from his portrait and fashion paintings, using water color, acrylic. Ananaba alongside his full time work in advertising, paints in his home studio and has featured in local and international publications. His works are in private collections in the UK ,South Africa and the National Assembly in Abuja. Nine of the watercolor paintings and two oil on canvas depict performance poses of Fela in various decisive moments and mood. “My thought was about capturing the moments of the legend who represents freedom and this also influenced my using water color because it tests your freedom” explained Ibe. On the white walls are Fela’s mantras: “Demo-crazy” “Poor man dey cry, Rich man dey mess” boldly written like a set of school rules alongside the Yeah Yeah series. The pop-up display of the music icon’s painting brings back memories of the late energetic and unapologetic persona of the legend flavoured with Ibe’s dexterous infusion of smoke, heat and devotion.
Having an equal but opposite concern is Tony Nsofor who takes on issues of migration and inter-personal relationship as affected by stunted Internet and social media communications. A language had evolved and he chose to create his own meaning for it creating complex, mixed media collages from fonts and words cut out of magazines in a recurring theme. Tony graduated from the University of Nsukka in 1997, after being mentored by the likes of Obiora Udechukwu and El Anatsui. Over the years his abstract expressionistic style, photographer, writer, poet, and painter skills have been honed. The new language is straight to the point for the savvy individuals who have little or no time to spare. Three to four letter words such as, HBD, BRB, which for him created some kind of connections same as is derived from the short conversation characterized by words like, HBD, HBD, BRB that has become a trend in our day-to-day world. “ At first I imagined it to be something unacceptable so I used the black and white colors and wordings from the cuts, then I realized that things evolve and because its not in my generation doesn’t mean its not working so as its evolving it is colorful. Babel’s new language as he titles it is fast, dramatic and enlightening. In his Migration series, without a place to call home is depicted by elongated gray and black mask like faces in which the reality of displaced masses is exposed through bold and measured sweeping strokes .Red boats resonate the budding migration crisis heavy on the conscience of the world. “ Whether we like it or not we are all affected in one way or another because when this people leave their countries they try to get in yours and become your neighbors so its not about the casualties alone”, Tony explains. Other works in his catalogue include Relationships and August meetings. He has had several group and solo exhibitions since moving to Lagos in 2001.
“Both artists are with a critical eye and social conscience who are using their creativity as vehicles for advocacy through artistic expression.” Says Award winning documentary filmmaker and curator, Sandra Mbanefo Obiago. “They creatively explore human relationships and pressing global issues through strikingly diverse and engaging styles that express an exciting range of honest and bold contemporary creativity.”
The exhibition took place at Temple Muse and is supported by Veuve
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