One Art Gallery Embraces Young Artists with ‘Into The Multiverse’

Abiola Bodunrin, the creative director for the gallery watched as the visitors to the gallery grew to about a thousand. The large compound that housed One Art Gallery in Anthony Village provided a great ambience to conversations, live painting and other experiential activities. Recently, Bodunrin revealed how the on-going show at the gallery attests to the creative energy of the young artists in Nigeria.

Preceded by an open call, the journey towards the group exhibition titled ‘Into The Multiverse’ saw over 150 entries. However, only 21 of them were selected. The experience is curated by Mr Waduud, an artist with an unquenchable appetite for art and its explorations. The show is a parade of 63 works spread across painting, digital as well as 3D installation art.

“The idea for starting one art gallery is to be all encompassing,” he explained. “All kinds of art are welcome here. We have the very first graffiti exhibition that has happened in Nigeria. We have done other shows since then – one in December and this may. We have done three major art shows as well as the art battle.

“Art battle is a live painting event launched in Nigeria in February and it was here.”

With focus on works by young artists, Bodunrin, a graduate of educational management from the University of Lagos explained that One Art Gallery hopes to be a launchpad for artists targeting bigger spaces and galleries.

This show opened on May 28th with works filling up the studio on the ground and top floors.

“It was not like the regular art exhibitions. We had some light installations and we had projection mapping.”

One of the exhibiting artists include Feranmi Okeowo is a Nigerian visual artist and Yaba College of Technology graduate. Using the impasto technique, he explores mental health issues and emotional memories. His works include ‘So Much To Give,’ ‘Amazing Super Me,’ ‘The Comforter’ among others.

Abdulazeez Ganiyat Abosede, a YABATECH graduate works with graphite, charcoal, watercolour, acrylic and oil- her favourite. She is intrigued by the healing power of nature, healing procedures and a portal of remembrance and the impact of healing involvement using coral patterns. Her works include The healer also needs healing I & II, and Miracle.

Nwankwo Uchenna Rejoice is a graduate of soil science and technology, she made her first acrylic painting in 2019, relocated to Lagos from Owerri in 2022 and enjoyed the tutelage of Yusuf Aina Abogunde.

The show also features Stanley Ugonabo, a graduate of Fine and Applied Arts at the University of Nigeria where he won the Chimezie Prize for Creative Excellence in visual arts in 2019. Blending realism and surrealism forms, this artist interrogates the human figure by stylising them and manipulating figures. His works include ‘Full Circle’ and ‘Sigh of Relief.’

Using abstract and semi-abstract forms, the Yabatech graduate, Samuel Oni Balogun is gaining popularity for his pop art and cubist style which is layered with Afrocentrism.

“Time and its uncontrollable passage is a phenomenon I find intriguing. For me, there is solace in freezing the simple and the seemingly insignificant fragments of time and moments; this is the core of my entire practice.’’

The show runs till June 30, and it’s open by appointment.