Modupe Ogunlesi, CEO Adam and Eve Homeware and convener, ‘The Content Exhibition (middle), with exhibiting artists.
Still on its focus of expanding art appreciation in Nigeria, The Content Art Gallery has announced its latest art exhibition featuring seven female artists drawn from diverse strata including established, midcareer, up-and-coming as well as exposed artists.
The exhibition, which is a celebration of female creative professionals kicks off today, September 26 and will run till October 30 at the Content Art Gallery, within the Adam & Eve complex, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos.
Artists who will be exhibiting their works are Bunmi Oyesanya, Taiye Erewele, Naomi Oyeniyi, Nelly Idagba, Funmi Arabambi, Ogochukwu Ejiofor and Faith Michael.
According to the curator of the Gallery, Lekan Onabanjo, the artists whose works are featured in ‘Through My Lens’ have been selected carefully to reflect the dynamism of female creative professions in Nigeria.
“The theme of the exhibition provides the artists an opportunity to share individual views on women’s perspective of life, in general, but using the medium of visual arts,” Onabanjo said.
He noted that as women, the artists represent the inner thoughts of most other female professionals across careers. The paintings on display, the curator explains, are also rich in aesthetics and critical content of which The Content Art Gallery is known for. He noted that since the gallery formally opened as a commercial space, the interest of collectors in art appreciation has been on the rise.
“As the art appreciation space within Ikeja and mainland in general expands, The Content Gallery will increase our exhibitions from once a year to twice or more,” Onabanjo noted.
‘Heal’ (Acrylic on canvas) by Ogochukwu Ejiofor
Speaking on her works on display at the exhibition, Bunmi Oyesanya noted that experiences are different for individuals.
“My experience might be different from another person’s experience, and that’s what’s unique about each of the works of each artist.
My work, ‘Beyond the Eyes’ focuses on speaking through the eyes. It talks about insights and visions. They say that insight is the third eye you use to perceive things before the vision brings them into reality. People say a lot through their eyes. Someone might be saying something but the meaning is different. They may be saying something, but the eyes are communicating something else,” she said.
Also speaking, Taye Erewele noted that she draws her inspiration from people. She noted that the cheapest commodity on earth are opinions.
“When I saw the theme, I was like good. What is it about my perspective of life that I want to project through this exhibition? what is that story I want to tell? I am talking about ordinary people, and I see people as a reflection of each other. Our personal experiences replicate each other somehow. we are interconnected. And so I have done portraits of people,” she said.