At O’DA Art Gallery, Alimi Adewale Returns with Eternal Forms.  

Yinka Olatunbosun

Art connoisseurs in Lagos are in for a spellbinding experience as the multidisciplinary artist, Alimi Adewale returns to the scene with a solo exhibition titled ‘Eternal Forms.’ This show which opens on July 15 is a two-part exhibition that would be presented at O’DA Art Gallery and Mercedes Benz Centre. It weaves together the enigmatic tapestry of cave paintings, dynamic female portraiture, and a collection of sculpture pieces that explore the human form. Through a cohesive body of work, this exhibition reflects upon the earth’s timelessness and the transformative power of femininity. 

Adewale strikes a balance between contemporary art and semiological archaeology; presenting intellectual rigour and the notions of an unspoiled Eden of antiquity. From the Timeless Tales Series, which interchanges between private and playful, contemporary and historical; to his long standing interest in portraiture and figuration depicted in his Ethereal Gaze I-V and his Mother Nature sculptures, Adewale presents an opportunity to “reframe and reexamine our understanding of femininity, power, and the relationship between humanity and the Earth.”

Alimi’s idiosyncratic sculptural language is predicated on three factors: laboriously acquired skills, extensive technical knowledge and clearly defined aesthetic standards. This is evident in the Mercedes display of the “Eternal Forms” exhibition, which consists of one bronze sculpture (Nature’s Guardian) and five wood sculptures (Symbiotic Connection). At just over 6ft, these works are imposing marvels of mass and weight, solidity and artistic flair. This is amplified by the fact that they only depict the head and neck which at such height and bulk, demand attention and look surreal.

The body of work invariably reflects to the artist’s mechanical engineering skills earned from his  education at the University of Ilorin. The 49-year old artist has since developed a keen pair of eyes for details having consolidated his knowledge of the arts through workshops across the world. Largely preoccupied with treating urban issues, Alimi’s  practice combines elements of minimalism and abstraction, evoking the dynamism and intensity of the cosmopolitan environment. 

The host gallery, O’DA Art Gallery has a dual focus on championing mid-career and established contemporary artists from Africa and its diaspora. Since its establishment in 2020, O’DA Art Gallery has made significant progress in representing artists that explore the untold stories of identity, technology, politics and environmental change.

In a press release for the exhibition, the founder of O’DA Art Gallery, Obida Obioha remarks: “We’re committed to bridging the gap between local and international audiences. With “beauty” at the epicentre of our gallery vision, we strive to present timeless displays by fusing art and interior design to create an immersive environment for our audiences. Eternal Forms aligns with our vision of projecting works that are socially relevant with aesthetics depths.”