By Henry Akubuiro
It’s far from being a beckoning of a dishonest enterprise on parade. Starting from tomorrow, Saturday April 20, Alexis Galleries will be showcasing Monkey Business, a solo art exhibition of a collection of paintings that addresses views on the world around us by Ikechukwu Ezeigwe.
The artist, who studied fine art at the Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education, Ijanikin, Lagos, and painting at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, will be exhibiting twelve exhilarating zoomorphic paintings derived from animalistic characters, whose attributes could bear positive or negative significations to humans.
“I use zoomorphic paintings to describe human characteristics and behaviours,” he said in a preview chat. “Many people know me for it. I have carved a niche with it, though I don’t limit myself to this form of art alone.”
The animals painted by Ezeigwe are endangered animals not guilty of crimes against humanity. “They didn’t do anything, so I wonder why people want them to go extinct,” he reflected.
Ezeigwe’s burgeoning craft exemplified broader sensibility. He believed that there were lots of commonalities connecting humans and animals, and it would be unconventional to represent the true character of his figures in a matter glaring to all.
Shedding more light on Monkey Business in her curatorial statement, Adebimpe Owoyemi said: “The inclusion of important social issues, politics, societal ills, and economic subjects in art, is what gives it a sense of relevance. Works that challenge societal norms and expectations are created to go beyond aesthetics.
“Visually representing and addressing controversial issues with intriguing compositions and zoomorphic-like concepts is what Ikechukwu Ezeigwe had portrayed in “Monkey Business”.
“Loot” is one of the works on display. It represents the plunder of African heritages and mineral resources by foreigners. The painting portrays a greedy-looking colonial official monkeying around with the looted African artifacts in an undignifying manner. Every single detail in the work was captured intentionally. The painting doesn’t just capture the loot, but also the repatriation of the artifacts.
Another work on display is “Sinister Agendas”, a painting that limns the two global pandemics —the Spanish flu in 1918 and the coronavirus in 2020 that impacted the world. It depicts the two eras, with background prints pointing out the controversial stories behind the facts around it. The painting figuratively represents the two eras, with background text simplifying its meaning.
Ezeigwe interpreted “The Business of War” as the economic dimension of war and how arms merchandise profit during the war and how they try to instigate war just so they can sell arms and weapons across nations.
In “The Test of a Man”, the artist depicts an altered depiction of “Napoleon Crossing the Alps” which represents and points out how a single decision by those in power can determine future occurrences for its people. Ezeigwe explained: “The painting is the reason behind others….power, ambition, control. They are not inherently bad but when it’s in the wrong hands, they could cause a lot of trouble.”
The artist, who was part of “Fate III” group exhibition organised by the gallery, believed these works would stimulate imagination, change narratives, and most importantly, create awareness of issues we disregard. Read through the lines, colours, and concept of representation, take it all in! Enjoy the show till April 4, 2024.
Alexis Galleries, located at 282, Akin Olugbade Street, off Idowu Martins Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, will be partnering with Mother Teresa Orphanage Homes. The exhibition is sponsored by Coca Cola, Maccalan, Bombay Sappire, Mikano, Art-Cafe, Tiger, UPS, AINA, Blankson Global, The Guardian, Berol, Schweppes, Heir Thermocouple, Nigeria Info 99.3fm and Covranet.