Olatunji-Aguda Gbenga explaining his artwork, ‘Symbol of authority,’ to guests at Art Asylum… in Lagos
Old students in the arts department of Auchi Polytechnic, Edo State, who are actively practising arts, have set up Golan Heights Renaissance group. The former students, who graduated between 1991 and 1996, are out to make an impact by promoting the African art heritage as well as portraying the human angle, environment, and concerns through arts.
The group of 12 recently held a two-day workshop at Art Asylum, Gowon Estate, Egbeda, with the theme ‘The Reunion of Strokes,’ which had them going back to the basics of arts, which is drawing as well as coming together and working like students all over again.
They displayed works in painting, pointinism, metallic sculptors, telling stories of life events about culture, ethnicity, humanity and other imaginings.
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According to the coordinator of the group, Mr. Francis Denedo, “We decided to start a workshop that will take us back to the roots where we all began and everyone, who is an artiste knows that it starts with drawing. We have all been practising individually and we want to impact in our society and set the pace for the young generation of Auchi Polytechnic alumni. We are looking forward to our maiden exhibition next year and will only admit Auchi alumni who are fully into arts.”
For the Chancellor of Art Asylum and mental sculptor, Mr. AbdulJabba David, “One thing we didn’t get right as a people is abandoning African culture and embracing westernization. We should have synchronized both to form a resilient culture. I think that is what we stand for as a group; we will never let our culture slip by. I am happy with what is going on in the fashion world today, with the use of kente, adire, aso-ofi, and other local fabrics to make western style clothing; that is what we should be up to.”
Other artists, who participated in the workshop are Angela Amami Isiuwe, Emmanuel Isiuwe, Azuka Nnabuogor, Olatunji Gbenga-Aguda, Godfrey Afebuame, Tony Evbodaghe, Ogbemi Haymann and Akinleye Ademola.
Source: G Entertainment
