Ernest Lainé’s Artistic Resilience Reflects In His Solo Exhibition

Mary Nnah

It was an evening of allure as the art-loving people of Abuja gathered at the Thought Pyramid Art Centre, Wuse, Abuja, to be smitten by the profound art pieces of veteran artist, Ernest Lainé.

The solo art exhibition with the theme “The Cosmology of Time”, organised by Sikart Creative, marked the long-anticipated return of the artistic maestro, Ernest Lainé; a skilled veteran whose hiatus wasn’t a deterrent to his luminance. Lainé’s vehement dedication to his family and his art is one story that engraves itself gracefully on the marble of resilience.

Speaking at the panel session held in his honour, Lainé divulged that his hiatus from the art space was to groom his children to global excellence.

According to him, the love for his art was still burning in his heart and returning to practice was a dream come true.

Lainé further noted that this exhibition gives credence to its ability to propel self-discovery.

In his words: “I left the creative space as an artist to invest time in grooming my children, who have grown to be amazing adults. I started drawing before the age of 10. My passion for art has never ceased to burn, I have always known I would return back to practicing art.

“An exhibition in Africa has always been my deep desire; Enya, one of my daughters, has made that possible. Time is elastic, the cosmology of time is simply how time allows for self-discovery and improvement. I depicted that in my works; I also celebrated the deep essence of womankind.”

One excited art enthusiast, in attendance, Dan Eggah, described the artist’s story as inspirational and called on younger artists to imbibe lessons learned.

He said: “It is not every time we see stories of men sacrificing a part of their career for their children, it is always a woman’s story. Lainé was able to live above societal expectations and return to a vibrant artistic life; that is worthy of note. As a younger artist, I am inspired.”

Also, the curator, Aisha Aliyu-Bima, said the exhibition is a blend of cultural exchange from Benin, Nigeria, and France.

She stated that the 63-year-old artist brought a very deep idea and thought process gathered over the years.

“This exhibition is one of a kind because it brings ideas that are richer and more developed.

“We had this panel in English and French, bringing a lot of neighbouring ideas and ideologies together, blending distinct cultures,” she said.