'Tales From Within' of young, bold artists

'Tita Riro' ( Pen on Canvas, 5 x 3 ), by David Olatoye.

ON the walls of the National Museum Gallery, Onikan, Lagos, the visual expressions in paintings and mixed media are no doubt rich enough to attract art appreciation of enthusiasts. But the works of the seven young exhibiting artists, which opened over a week ago, require more than the individual brilliance expressed onthe walls.


From glittering beads in digital forms by Daniel Ajayi, to pastel in realism of Christian Allison, stylized in impressionism from Omoniyi Gabriel as well as Akintayo Akintobi's rendition in portraitures, Emmanuel Eweje's hyperrealism and surreal by Ikechukwu Ezeigwe, the exhibition titled Tales From Within  could have passed for a well juried show. In fact, Olatoye David's handling of brush movements in quite a number of his figural captures assert that the gathering of these youths deserve encouragement.

As one could argue that each of the works would not be seen as misfit, even among exhibitions of established artists, Olatoye's rendition of traditional hair dressing scene titled 'Tita Riro' comes into focus. His amazing application of 'pen on canvas' in 'Tita Riro' and 'pen on leather' in 'Resurrection' strengthens the relatively richness of the group show.

 Even as subjective as art is, the exhibiting artists of Tales From Within seem to have placed aesthetics and conceptual values above escapism contents that most young people engage in under the guise of abstraction. Whatever the lack of curatorial direction in proper presentation of the exhibits, the artists make up for that loss in individual skills.

Quite of note that the ongoing exhibition swell recent increase in the volume of young artists daring the challenge of financial cost in organisong art exhibitions, to express themselves. And even the opening of Tales From Within, rightly or not lacked the usual presence of known art collectors. But the changing behaviour of art appreciation, which in the last few years has been breeding quiet and new collectors may have also boosted the current gathering of young artists  at the National Museum.

Young and bold are not the only assets of the exhibiting artists; they have the future so bright ahead with their strokes.
 "As a group making its first show together, we are hoping to continue every year," Ajayi states during the opening.

During the opening of 'Tales From Within' at National Museum, Onikan, Lagos.

The traditional Artists Statements of these 'Turks' are as promising as their visual expressions on canvas. Omoniyi: "Following your inner moonlight, take charge and fill your canvas with the breathings of your heart and Arts". Olatayo: "Try all you want, to be real and never you limit your creativity or trap it in, else you will explode". Eweje: "With God, impossibilities does not exist in art, a time will come sculptures will be made solely of water". Ajayi: "Tales from Within' is  pictorial impression of the inner form of art into reality.
Akintobi: "Tales are known to be told like like stories, heard like mysteries , and undocumented like imaginary events. But in this context, tales are seen, understood and documented". Ezeigwe: "My paintings are thoughts clothed with pigments to communicate tales from within". Allison: "Inspiration does not exist, but it must find you working". Eweje:  "With God, impossibilities does not exist in art; a time will come sculptures will be made solely of water".