Adesanya… leading young artists’ series

BY TAJUDEEN SOWOLE

 DEVOID of the presence of big names in the art circuit, Segun Adesanya’s maiden show lived up to expectation with the turnout.

   Held from April 13 to 21, the elated artist also opened a series of works at Mydrim Art Gallery that would facilitate young and up coming artists who dread the high cost of staging their debut show to do so. The Gallery is creating space in its calendar to showcase fresh artists.

  While taking his guests through the 24 works mounted in the ground floor of the gallery, Adesanya showed how his work is evolving from an innocent rendition into a more challenging one.

   From common themes such as the defunct chaotic scene of Oshodi and residential huts built on stilts on the bank of Lagos lagoon as well as landscapes, to more thought provoking issues, young Adesanya’s brush skillfully strokes in the effects of naturalism.

  Cockfight could be very exciting, particularly for younger people. This, perhaps, is the attraction for Adesanya in bringing two cocks face to face in a ready to fight action. Titled Politics, he says, the work is not about the common excitement we get watching cockfight, but on general issues of the society.

   He notes, “the kind of politics you hear people in government play is worrisome, particularly for my generation.”

  Adesanya laments that the inconsistence in government offers no hope, because some people in government play dirty politics to the detriment of many Nigerians.  

Politics, oil on canvas by Adesanya

  Fighting dirty as seen from the perspective of the young artist appears to have the hero and the villain, so suggests the white and dark feathered depiction of the two cocks.

    Dated 2010, Adesanya’s Oshodi, The Way It Was revisits the highway-turned market and bus stations as it was three years before the painting. Why did it take the artist so long to paint Oshodi? “I learnt more than one reference was collected, over a period of time, after the rehabilitation of Oshodi,” he discloses. And this, he says led to a little modification of the painting, giving it my impression.

   The portrait of horse is not a bad idea, it depicts the importance of horse in the socio-economic development of man, says Adesanya.

  Not exactly new in art shows, as this has been part of the works featured in over 10 shows since 2007. However, he notes, “it is a step forward for me.”  

   

FOR the gallery, “it’s in pursuance of our vision of discovering and promoting talented young artists,” Sinmidele Ogunsanya of Mydrim states. She discloses that the gallery has planned a series of salons featuring the works of innovative new comers. Adesanya’s salon is the first of the series. He is a young realist painter whose works are reminiscent of the Yaba School.”

Segun Adesanya

  Promoting young artists has been in the character of Mydrim, but not at the scale Ogunsanya is pushing. For example, the yearly show of pastel artists always featured some of these young artists. The

11th Pastel Yearly Show, held from last December to January, had Bede Umeh joined the regulars such as Abass Kelani, Ade Odunfa, Ajibade Awoyemi,  Chidinma Ochu, Emmanuel Dudu, Jonathan Jefferson, Joseph Ayelero, Kolawole Olojo-Kosoko, Kehinde Osho, Moses Oghagbon, Osagie Aimufia, Samuel Ajobiewe and Stanley Dudu.