What's Hot?
95th Oscars: ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’ Leads...
‘Shanty Town’ Star, Chidi Mokeme, Reveals ‘Scar’ Behind...
Aluu Four: Linda Ikeji’s ‘Dark October’ Coming To...
19th AMAA: Organisers Reiterate Call For Entries
How Rema’s ‘Calm Down’ With Selena Gomez Conquered...
19th AMAA: Organisers Reiterate Call For Entries
International tourist arrivals doubled in 2022: UN
Dakar is reclaiming its place as the cultural...
Ijongbon! As Kunle Afolayan Goes On Set Again
Nigerian Artistes Shine As Burna Boy, Davido, Asake,...
The Culture Newspaper
  • Home
  • Arts & Exhibitions
  • Culture & Festivals
    • Culture Africana
    • Culture People
  • Fashion & Lifestyle
    • Music, Movies & More
  • News
    • Travel News
  • Opinion
    • Reviews (The Critics)
  • TCN Literati
  • Tourism & Hospitality
Arts & Exhibitions

 Otoki’s ‘This Land is not for Sale’ celebrates nature’s beauty at Signature Beyond Gallery

by Araayo Akande March 14, 2022
by Araayo Akande March 14, 2022

Painter Oluwafemi Otoki has a laudable artistic commitment with his strokes: to document several sceneries of the natural world for posterity. 

From March 19 to 28, the Yaba College of Technology alumnus will demonstrate how far he has broadened his scope in nature painting with a solo exhibition titled ‘This Land Is Not For Sale’ at Signature Beyond Art Gallery, Awolowo Road, Ikoyi.

In the show, the 54-year-old artist will be affirming how nature changed, energised and inspired him to document all he had observed on canvas. 

Previously focusing on painting miniature landscape works, Otoki has gradually developed his technique to create bigger works from his extensive trips to rural communities.

Driven by passion, he started studying, sketching and painting landscapes with vivid and expansive depictions of natural scenery in the southwest, particularly Ekiti and Ondo states.

“Nature speaks to me, and I believe there is a lot to explore, discover and learn from it,” Otoki explained ahead of the exhibition.  “I do this in my way, working hard to create paintings that speak to me and others about the beauty that exists in and

around us,” he noted further. 

The artist, who has been described as an artist whose choice of realism stands out from the crowded space of hyperrealism, added that his inspiration comes from God.

One of Otoki’s colleagues, Ike Chiemezie Gerald, noted that the artist “has chosen not to dwindle his practice and career down the common lane of photocopying, typical of sample paintings by certain artists in Nigeria whose, art, especially landscapes, could sarcastically be described as an extension of photographic renditions without brush strokes.” 

 In his foreword in the exhibition’s catalogue, Gerald explained Otoki’s choice of ‘This Land Is Not For Sale’ as a theme. “The technical resolution by the artist can be interpreted metaphorically in the expression, This Land is Not for Sale, a caveat emptor, intelligently structured.”

 Gerald noted that the theme “introduces the eccentricity in the artist’s dialect in terms of composition, colour and texture approach, with his lavishly elaborate strokes and vibrant colours which tend to invoke in the art seers the living memory and impression of Monet’s execution of the Lilly series, for instance.” 

 Otoki, according to Gerald, presents that “standard as an affirmation of peculiarity in approach and professional identity.”

 Though used as a metaphor, ‘This Land is Not for Sale’ is a fundamental expression in Nigerian pop culture. It warns people to be mindful of fraudulent activities of impostors claiming to be investors, both in transactional and non-transactional associations, Gerald argued. 

“The artist in his ingenuity of thoughts, therefore, has decided to play around this concept to capture the attention of his audience; getting them to look past the mediocrity of substandard presentations of landscape paintings.” 

Otoki’s painting, he insisted, deviated from “ways that encourage Plato’s mimetic theory, which argues for the uselessness of art.” Gerald said that the exhibition hopes to establish a common hub of transaction between artists, art seers and collectors of outdoor paintings.

 Born in 1968, Otoki attended the Yaba College of Technology. He obtained Ordinary National Diploma (OND) and Higher National Diploma (HND)Painting in 1987 and 1992.

In 2010, he painted portraits of the Military administrator of Adamawa state, Air Vice Marshall Gregory Agboneni and the Secretary-General of the National Youth Services Corps (NYSC). He also executed a commissioned work for the NYSC secretariat in Yola. Otoki was presented with the Adamawa State Government award for exemplary services by the Government and people of Adamawa State in 1994. 

In 2003, he received a certificate of achievement from the Ohio State University for completing the International Art and Culture Summer Workshop.

Otoki belongs to several professional bodies, including the Society of Nigerian Artists and The Creative Chambers. He believes there is a lot to explore, discover and learn

from nature. His greatest aspiration is to be one of the foremost landscape

painters globally and project a positive image of the African artist globally.

 His past exhibitions include ‘Flower Blossom’, ‘Happenings of Our Time’, ‘Family Ties’, ‘Trade Wind of Our Time’, ‘Millstones’ and ‘Strokes of Peace’ and ‘Some Names’ at Nimbus Art Centre.

atsignaturebeautybeyondcelebratesforgalleryislandnaturesnototokissaleththis
0
FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedinWhatsappEmail
Araayo Akande

previous post
Young Africa Works: KAP Film & Television Academy Opens Application For Film And Television Production E-Learning Training
next post
Nigerian Publishers Lament Cost of Book Review Exercises

You may also like

Judges Unveiled For Maiden ArtsForChange Competition

January 9, 2023

Restitution Organization Sues to Keep Smithsonian’s Benin Bronzes...

December 14, 2022

Pan African Film & Arts Festival Announces 2023...

December 14, 2022

ARTSPLIT Hosts VIP Dinner To Close Grillo, Pemba...

December 6, 2022

Why are so many African art fairs dominated...

November 30, 2022

Artwork On Abeokuta Women’s Revolt Excites Arts World

November 23, 2022

ARTSPLIT Holds Auction Of Classic Works By Yusuf...

November 7, 2022

Serena and Venus Williams and Ava DuVernay Tapped...

November 4, 2022

NCAC, Arts4Change Unveil Creativity Challenge, Call for Entries

October 18, 2022

African contemporary art enjoying a surge in interest

October 15, 2022

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Recent Posts

  • 95th Oscars: ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’ Leads As Academy Unveils Full List Of Nominees [FULL LIST]
  • ‘Shanty Town’ Star, Chidi Mokeme, Reveals ‘Scar’ Behind His Five-Year Break From Acting
  • Aluu Four: Linda Ikeji’s ‘Dark October’ Coming To Netflix This February
  • 19th AMAA: Organisers Reiterate Call For Entries
  • How Rema’s ‘Calm Down’ With Selena Gomez Conquered the Global Charts

Sponsored

Recent Posts

  • 95th Oscars: ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’ Leads As Academy Unveils Full List Of Nominees [FULL LIST]

    January 24, 2023
  • ‘Shanty Town’ Star, Chidi Mokeme, Reveals ‘Scar’ Behind His Five-Year Break From Acting

    January 24, 2023
  • Aluu Four: Linda Ikeji’s ‘Dark October’ Coming To Netflix This February

    January 24, 2023

Categories

  • Arts & Exhibitions
  • Culture & Festivals
  • Culture Africana
  • Culture People
  • Fashion & Lifestyle
  • Food
  • Music, Movies & More
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Photo News
  • Reviews (The Critics)
  • TCN Interview
  • TCN Literati
  • Tourism & Hospitality
  • Travel News
  • Travel Trends
  • Travelogue
  • What's Hot?
  • World Culture

Connect with us

Connect with us
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Youtube
  • About Us
  • Advertise With Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us

@2019 - The Culture Newspaper. All Right Reserved. Designed and Developed by Zero-One

The Culture Newspaper
  • Home
  • Arts & Exhibitions
  • Culture & Festivals
    • Culture Africana
    • Culture People
  • Fashion & Lifestyle
    • Music, Movies & More
  • News
    • Travel News
  • Opinion
    • Reviews (The Critics)
  • TCN Literati
  • Tourism & Hospitality