Two Friends Mark 40 Years of Creativity in “Refreshing Dialogue” Exhibition

Celebrating four decades of camaraderie and creativity, Gab Awusa and Zinno Orara have unveiled their joint exhibition, “Refreshing Dialogue.”

Their journey began as teenagers at Auchi Polytechnic, where their shared love for fine art forged a bond that has stood the test of time and blossomed into a remarkable artistic journey.

Despite pursuing distinct artistic styles, Gab and Zinno’s friendship grew beyond their school days, leading them to become celebrated artists in their own right. Inspired by the suggestion of Prof Ebun Clark, the duo decided to commemorate their enduring friendship with a 2-man exhibition slated to hold at The National Museum Lagos, running from March 30 to April 13 2024.

“The idea came from Prof Ebun Clark, an academic and the first Nigerian professor in the field of theatre arts. She sold the idea to us, she heard the story of two friends that have been together for over 40 years. She said it would be nice for us to come together and do an exhibition. I called Zinno if he was in for a 2-man exhibition. And he agreed since we have not done anything together since our graduation,” Gab Awusa said at the press preview.

Describing the theme of the exhibition, Gab Awusa said that the artworks would offer a fresh perspective, incorporating experimental elements and addressing societal and environmental issues from diverse angles and will be curated by Moses Ohiomokhare, foremost art consultant and curator.

Among the featured pieces are Gab’s “Spirits of Lagos” and “Body Language,” alongside Zinno’s “Before Our Very Eyes,” “Silent Noise,” and “May Our Paths Cross Again,” this particular art work touches on the mythical undertones that often comes with the phrase “May Our Path Meet Again” when two people have to pathways. “It simply means they believe that they will see or meet again in the future. It can be used as a friendly way to say goodbye or a way to express hope that the relationship or connection will continue,” Zinno Orara added.

Reflecting on their journey, Zinno reminisced about their shared experiences as roommates and their determination to excel academically, culminating in graduating with distinctions. Beyond artistic prowess, their friendship is characterised by mutual respect and unwavering support, with Zino describing Gab as a brother who would defend him anytime.

“We went through school and came out with very good grades. Two of us left with distinctions and that set the records. It’s a celebration of friendship and brotherhood. I see him as my brother. He is somebody I know that if I’m not there he would defend me. And he knows that too. It’s not just about our work. It’s about a relationship that was 40 years last September.

“This miniature he is doing today we started together in school. That was how our hands became very strong. It’s a celebration of relationship and friendship. We have mutual respect for each other.

“Every artist paints his personality. We are here to celebrate our arts, to celebrate the rough times we had in school, to celebrate resilience, to celebrate the fact that no matter what is before you if you stand firm every mountain will move.

“I don’t have any influence on his work and he doesn’t have any influence on my work. No two artists will see the same thing the same way. They’re going to see two people who have been friends and two extremes. We lived together, our works are two walls apart because art it’s about you. Art is about expression,” Zinno said.