DIVERSIFORM Unites Young Artists at Moorhouse

By Yinka Olatunbosun

Fusing ideas in different forms is the nucleus of this show, DIVERSIFORM which opens tomorrow at Moorhouse, Ikoyi.

Featuring nine young artists, each is showing four pieces of work that capture individual’s creative thrust using varying techniques of painting.

Titilope Salami, a graduate of the University of Lagos explores the oil as her medium.
Having refined her skills at the Universal Studio of Art, Iganmu at a six-month industrial training to understudy artists such as Abiodun Olaku and Salako Olajide, she arrived at her impasto.

Her works include “Contemplation”, “Eight to Five’’ with female forms piercing through her imagination which is rendered in oil painting to communicate volumes of emotions in every day women and their existentiality.

Another artist Abiodun Pererin, a Lagosian with Portuguese roots, focuses on national issues having taken part in Life in My City Art Competition.

His piece, “National Rebirth’’ draws a parallel between an expectant mother in labour and a nation with huge potentials like Nigeria.

With his internship at Biodun Omolayo Art Gallery, his gaze has shifted from being just a studio artist towards using his art as a source of mental health rehabilitation.

Nurudeen Popoola’s profound statement on female empowerment runs through the brush strokes in his naturalistic paintings such as “The Girl Beside’’ and “Red’’. The latter work underscores the value of genuine love. Highly influenced by Mike Omoighe, Popoola’s subjects in this show are predominantly women.

Tiamiyu Azeez, a graduate of Lagos State Polytechnic, is a painter which skills traversing abstract, realism and sometimes distorted images. His “Market Mode” reflects his preference for light and shade as well as vibrant colours.

Adeyemi Oluwaseun Dare’s “Afterwork’’ is a refreshing contribution to the show as it highlights the importance of leisure in one’s total well-being using embellishments. The female form with kora in the work provokes argument about the nature of pleasure to seek afterwork.

Ikechukwu God’s power shows his interest in contemporary issues with his painting titled, “Beard’’. He discusses the trends in male fashion using his multi-media techniques and geometrics. For this stylized piece, he appropriates saw dust and fabric, amongst others.

Another painter, Alawode Azeez Owolabi, from the Yaba school, is the only printmaker at the show. Having cut his teeth with the legendary Bruce Onabrakpeya, he delves into cultural ethos and renaissance in his works such as “Onidiri’’.