A debut art exhibition by Omenai Gallery brings together two young artists who are connected by their ties to their home country. Titled ‘Visions of Home: A Journey Through Nigeria’ and curated by Gbenro Adeyemo, the founder of Omenai, the exhibition features works of Nigerian artists Olasunkanmi Akomolehin and Bola Obatuyi who present selected works that reflect on their personal lives and lived experiences in modern day Nigeria.
Image courtesy of Omenai Gallery.
Despite the pervasive problems with unrest in Nigeria, there are artists who are willing to be insistent in continuing to explore the human condition as it relates to the mental health, wellness, beauty, and community. Exploring and documenting the joy and serenity through self-expression in different artistic expressions, artists like Akomolehin and Obatuyi continue to push the notion “that their hope is not lost.”
Akomolehin’s paintings resonate a deep representation of his personal journey. His work reflect transformative moments he has experienced in relation to distinct and profound stages of progress in his work. On the other hand, many different perspectives on sisterhood are explored throughout Obatuyi’s works. This reoccurring motif shows how sincere these artists are about their work by showing flowers on clothing on the figures in their works or in the background.
Image courtesy of Omenai Gallery.
Olasunkanmi Akomolehin (b. 1995, Lagos, Nigeria) is a Nigerian artist. He started his art journey at Rufus Giwa Polytechnic before proceeding to pursue a Higher National Diploma Degree in Painting at Yaba College of Technology, Lagos, Nigeria. Akomolehin’s work narrates stories of the past, present, and future. The central themes in his art are identity, mental health, and wellness, as he sheds light on the struggles and triumphs of people living with mental illness. His naturalist and maximalist portraits of contemporary Black figures explore human conditions. His subjects are often distorted and heavily backdropped by vibrantly coloured floral patterns. Using oil and acrylic on canvas, they are portrayed as diverse and authentic to peel apart the facade of his subject’s emotions.
Akomolehin’s works have been shown in group exhibitions in Nigeria and across the world, including the United States, Italy, and China.
Image courtesy of Omenai Gallery.
Bola Obatuyi (b. 1992) was born and raised in Ibadan, Nigeria. She got her Higher National Diploma (HND) in Fine Arts from Auchi Polytechnic, Edo State. She brings her canvases to life using fabric and acrylic paint. Passionate about the idea behind making new things from found materials, her artistic journey traces back to her early days in her aunt’s tailoring shop in Ibadan, Nigeria. From making doodles on the wall to crafting art with cardboard as a child, Obatuyi’s practice is a laborious one. It begins with template drawings and fabric-cutting, eventually ending with pasting, painting, and sewing. Her portraits depict themes of tenderness and femininity that resonate with the viewer.
Her works have been featured in group exhibitions in Nigeria and across the world, including the United Kingdom.
Image courtesy of Omenai Gallery.
Visions of Home: A Journey Through Nigeria exhibition is on view from October 6th to October 31st 2023 at Frame Chicago.
