HISTORY OF ARTWORKS CREATED BY SOME NIGERIAN ARTISTS

INTRODUCTION Painting is a section in the art that is suitable for the documentation of actions, moods, events, occurrence and several activities that evolved throughout the lifespan of man, just like photography is known as a record of events so does the painting. Knowing fully well that this discipline started from the time of cave art, concentration is mainly on the subject-matter, materials, composition, medium, quality, quantity, genre, a given period of time, and particular art school are to be considered for the purpose of this study. Artworks of graduates in the painting section of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria from the 1990’s to the year 2000 are analyzed below: 1990 Duke Asidere; titled fabric offcuts as a collage painting medium as an experiment. The subject-matter in this artwork are basically human postures such as female figures with naked breasts, some were carrying basket on their heads, while some were just walking the male figures were probably in a movement from somewhere to another in one or the other. The rest are the display of multiple figures. The materials used are; pieces of cloth, enamel, fabrics, bangles, buttons on wood. The quality of each work is presumed to last longer while the number of artworks is twelve in number that was recorded. Reference: Duke E. 1990, fabric offcuts as a collage painting medium as an experiment, thesis submitted on 12th February 1991. 1991 Simon Best Ochigbo titled developing painting possibilities, a mixed media experiment with burning technique. The subject matter here evolved around human psychology from birth to adult and old age, less of his artworks were in landscape and abstract. Wood burning and etching on board was used to carry out genres like ‘’transformation of man’’ ‘’arrow of destiny’’ ‘’eater goddess;; to mention but few. The quality of each artwork depends on the type of wood that was used but artworks done on solid wood tends to last long. Eleven artworks were recorded. Reference: Simon B., developing painting possibilities, a mixed media experiment with burning technique a thesis submitted for the degree of masters in painting 1994 Iroabuchi C.L., the Abstract transformation of still life fruits and vegetable in painting. The works are representational studies of fruit, vegetable and their descriptive colour is used. The materials used are; oil on canvas. Flower and leaves were painted as subject matter with about eighteen artworks on display. Reference: Iroabuchi L., (1994) Abstract transformation of still life fruits and vegetable in painting. 1994 Aina Ayodele’s artwork titled Developing colour compositions in painting towards visually pleasing possibilities. Combination of coloured shapes and patterns through a second stage were introduced (by an imposition on colour space) and a final stage of synthesis of forms and patterns was achieved. A non-objective colour composition at the initial stage. The materials used are; oil on canvas ant the genre of his painting ranges between the abstraction of sketches and colours, combination of motifs, human figures with the baby under a red umbrella, image of (Mallam) royal or noble men like chiefs, hawking sessions and so on. About fifteen artworks were recorded as quantity. Reference: Developing colour compositions in painting towards visually pleasing possibilities. 1996 Lami Ibrahim Bature, with artwork titled; Matching colours with wood; an experiment in naturalistic portrait painting. The artworks were composed of the representation of the human expression, mood as present in the subject rendered in portraitures. The materials used are; oil on canvas and pastel on paper. The artist produces thirty-seven artworks showing moods, feelings of human being in a portrait form. Three-quarter forms, full figure measurement, while some are having multiple figures of about two or more human figures. Reference: Matching colours with wood; an experiment in naturalistic portrait painting. 1997 Akwaowo Nnsewwo, titled; An exploration of hard edge representational compositions with limited colours and tonal values. These are paintings carried out and divided into six categories which are; 1. Geographical colour separation 2. Division of surface into mosaics 3. Broad flat unelected areas 4. Rigid use of vertical, horizontal and curvilinear lines 5. Spontaneous addition of lines and 6. Fused form and space. Twenty-six artworks were written about and displayed. Oil on canvas was used all through the production of these artworks. Reference: An exploration on hard edge representational c

compositions with limited colours and tonal values. 1998 Joshua John Oyedemi title of artwork is; Aquatic forms a source of inspiration in painting. Some of his paintings deal with the use of strong colours usually primary, secondary or complementary to bring out the forms or to make it recede from the viewers. The artworks were also grouped into two categories; 1. Fish and mangrove 2. Fantasy. The artworks were basically the study of fish, while the materials used are oil on canvas and watercolour. Twenty-five artworks were carried out by this artist. Reference: Aquatic forms as a source of inspiration in painting. 2000 Artwork of Chafe Shehu Ismail titled; the adaptation of selected decorative motifs used in Durbar related objects for painting. The artworks were carried out from the inspiration of ‘’Durbar’’ culture which is dominated in all artworks produced by the artist. Titles like; Dogari, Emir and bodyguards, Emir Regalia were incorporated in the art products. The materials used are basically oil on canvas with twenty-seven artworks in production. Reference: the adaptation of selected decorative motifs used in Durbar related objects for painting.