A Nostalgic Show for Art Masters

Yinka Olatunbosun

The National Museum in Onikan, Lagos came alive again last weekend with a stunning exhibition titled “Nostalgia,” featuring 25 exquisite pieces by 12 renowned Nigerian artists. Among the highlights are Josy Ajiboye’s painting “Breaking Kola” and Bruce Onobrakpeya’s low relief etching “Good Governance” from 1987.

Josy Ajiboye, a legendary painter and cartoonist, articulates his affinity for culture with his piece, “Breaking Kola.” The work shows an elderly Fulani man named Baba Aminu breaking kola nuts with his teeth. Inspired by the positive traits of the Fulani people that he knew while growing up, the work is the artist’s expression of sadness over the negative stereotypes about the Fulani today, emphasising that the violent individuals are not representative of the Fulani he knows.

Ajiboye advised young and aspiring artists to take their time to refine their skills, stating, “Art is not something you do quickly. You need patience and knowledge to be the best.”

The exhibition, which runs until June 6, aims to bring back nostalgic feelings through the rarely-seen works of these great artists. Other featured pieces include Edosa Ogiugo’s “After Hours,” depicting eastern women returning from a party, Mufu Onifade’s “Awodi and Ikarahun,” Tony Enebeli’s “Durbar Procession,” and works by Ben Udeze, Duke Asidere, Kehinde Balogun, Odogwu Fidelis, Steve Ekpenisi, Bolaji Ogunwo, Alao Luqman, and Greg Onyeka.

The “Nostalgia” exhibition explored Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage and the dynamic evolution of its art, with each piece telling a story that captures the essence of tradition while embracing modernity.

Ademola Meshioye, the exhibitor, explained that the exhibition was set up to showcase both old and new visual art collections. He hopes the 7-day event will give more visibility to seasoned artists, some of whom have been painting for over 30 years but have not gained much recognition. Meshioye shared that his love for art was inspired by his father, Bode Meshioye, a trained painter with many artworks who successfully ran an advertising and marketing firm. The family has over 100 pieces of visual art in its private collection.

“My father has been an artist, as a child this is just in the DNA. It wasn’t something that just began today, it is something that I have been doing over time. Then my father has this ritual, every Saturday morning, we sit down, drink, eat, and paint,” he shared.

Curator Mufu Onifade said that the theme “Nostalgia” reflects the daily experiences in Nigeria. He noted that the selection of artworks was intentional, focusing on seasoned professional artists to ensure a high-quality exhibition. For him, showcasing the works of master artists was a deliberate choice to bridge the past and present, exploring the timeless beauty of old masterpieces alongside the innovative creations of contemporary artists.

“When you look at the works, the materials used, the title, the theme, and the message, they are nostalgic because they are about our daily experiences in Nigeria. We thought if we are going to do a professional exhibition why not start with the masters,” Onifade noted.