EMENIKE Ogwo’s new body of work titled, Observation, which took
centrestage at Terra Kulture, Victoria Island, Lagos, recently, added
visual narrative to the expanding ‘industry’ of motivational literary
works.
With 36 paintings, including his familiar impastor-style textured
canvas and acrylic on paper, Ogwo delves into the familiar issue of
man’s power of observation, stressing the abundance of nature in every
given state of the environment.
An impressionist whose palette
makes no pretext about deliberately engaging a viewer of his work in
visibility test, Ogwo’s choice of Observation, as a theme, indeed,
complements his technique — there is a thin line between the ability to
understand the composite of images on his canvas and having a great
sense of observation. And bringing such combination into his thoughts
about the environment and hidden opportunity, stresses a strong
intellection imbedded in the artist’s approach to motivational theme.
From Lagos to Owerri, and the northern part of the country, Ogwo’s
palette perches on the peculiarity of each city and suggests how
opportunities are hidden, but only those with keen Observation make the
best of the situations.
He
notes that as people become less observant, they see “less opportunity”.
Perhaps, the environment is becoming less interesting, so, is the
decline in people’s sense of observation. “There is nothing created by
God that is not good,” Ogwo argues. Even with man’s devastation of the
earth, nature’s resilience, he insists, is still strong enough to create
sustenance for those who have the ability to see hidden opportunity.
“Opportunity exists where we chose to find it”.
Aside from the
motivational tone of the artist’s visual narratives imbedded in the body
of work, also highlighted is the human pressure on the environment.
Having consistently focused the urban Lagos in his past art exhibitions,
the artist’s highlight of the Lagos environmental and human challenges
continues in Observation.
By Tajudeen Sowole
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