![NG-[A_BA[COMP_TABL_ALLC]:TABLETS_160x600](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_uFgUStUf5U6qlElXv6RoOyWFuSSNw3FcQtnW3lttWSyI0tubUd1xQuta5fGOozHzTGmR2q6VV1eM-6kgmNM5pxRsZnzVTe4D7nzZUr_-dvSmZLnbbGpTp0oTvCbkliV0z9qSXz4raDM1k1gE08A2XssbWBEPi4gKwpqwZiEd5H-VgxCDPzyg=s0-d)
Stylishly-bearded visual artist and former Chairman of the Nigerian Society of Artists, Lagos State Chapter, Olu Ajayi, has opened a new studio in Onikan, Lagos.
Those who have been following the engaging artist in the past decades would describe the movement as major, since he had all along been domiciled at the National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos.
To some people, the movement could be a sign of the economic progress that Ajayi seems to have been making in recent years.
Such people would say it is a way of announcing his arrival at the elite/royal club in the world of Nigerian artists; after all, he built the new studio himself.
But Ajayi is quick to debunk such a rumour. According to him, he relocated to Onikan because of its proximity to several cultural icons and monuments.
He notes that being in Onikan now means that he is not only close to the likes of the National Museum, the MUSON Centre and Yoruba Tennis Club, he is also close to art patrons.
Ajayi adds that in terms of security, the Onikan area is safer, and this will encourage more people to visit his studio.
Ajayi is synonymous with the Living Legends Project, established in 2008, to honour and document those he describes as Nigerian men and women of integrity. The project has documented – in paintings – six revered personalities that include Professor Wole Soyinka, Prof Yusuf Grillo and General Yakubu Gowon (rtd).
The legend series, he explains, is part of what will continue to engage his attention. For one, he is in the process of compiling into a book paintings that the series produced on the legends.
Ajayi, however, notes that he is not currently working on any personality as he has yet to decide on the next person.
He says, “To be qualified for the series, you must be a Nigerian who has been consistent at affecting our lives with positive contributions for nothing less than 30 years. What I mean is that for you to qualify to be so recorded by painters and sculptors, you would have been working or contributing to national development for nothing less than 30 years and if you add that to your age, you should be in your 70s or 80s.
“The artistic merit of the project is in having a coalition of art and history. These people are considered to be part of our lives and have been considered worthy of being immortalised either on canvas or on paper or clay for posterity and so far we’ve been able to do just about six individuals.
Bruce Onobrakpeya, Prof JP Clark and General Gowon. These are the people we have documented since 2008 and that is to tell you how cumbersome it is to consider any one suitable to be so recorded.
“Its been difficult because we are not doing political balance or job, it has nothing to do with that. We are not also doing people who are your usual suspect because we read about them all the time in the media. We are talking genuinely about people contributing to national development in various disciplines.
“The last person we did was General Gowon. You will agree with me that Gowon is a man of peace.
“Even with the storm in his political clime, he remains a retired army officer who administered the affairs of this country during the civil war.
“He didn’t throw his weight around. He has always been an apostle of peace. We felt it was good to record him as Nigeria’s living legend.”
0 comments:
Post a Comment