Best of Ife group exhibition holds December 3

CHINYERE IKEANYI

A group exhibition tagged: “Best of Ife @30,” will hold from December 3 to 9, 2023 at Fobally Artworld Africa, along Amaechi Onuoha Crescent Ikate Lekki Phase 1, Lekki Lagos.

It is being organized by the alumni of the University of Ife now Obafemi Awolowo University, (OAU)  Ile- Ife, Osun State, and ”It is contextualized on what Ona is, and the exploits of artists in different parts of the world, who graduated from the 50 year old fine and applied art department of the university.

The exhibition deconstructs forms associated with the admixture of Western European and African culture with the colonial artistic tendencies, and elevates the contemporary recreation and reinvention of forms and philosophies of the traditional Yoruba Art.

At a press briefing in Lagos, a US-based art scholar, Prof. Moyo Okediji, who spoke virtually expressed excitement for being part of what was going on with the best of Ife group exhibition

Prof. Okediji said: “I must really congratulate the organizers for putting the show together because now is the time for us to take control of our own art instead of waiting for the outsiders to help us find ways of promoting ourselves.”

Okediji, who is one of the progenitors of Ona movement, noted: “There used to be a time when only foreigners did this kind of thing and it’s really gratifying that we are calling the shots. However, the contribution of Ife school to creativity in Nigeria has not been fully evaluated. And from the early 90s until now, the products of Ife Art School have tremendously changed the styles of creativity in Nigeria.

He added: “Ife at the time it came followed Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) as University of Nigeria (UNN) Nsukka, and when that came, it didn’t seem to have any coherent philosophy but as time went on, we were able to come up with a credible idea concerning the concept of Ona and since then, it has become a very important philosophical Idea that is pushing not just Ife art actually, but also the art space in Nigeria”.

Kunle Filani, a Professor of Visual Arts  And Aesthetics, African-American University, Port Novo and one of the five progenitors of the concept of Onaism’, gave  historical background on the department of fine and applied arts  of the former University of Ife noting that the department started with some students who were in the faculty of education.

He noted that by 1972 Moyo Ogundipe started art and was the only one who graduated in 1972.

“We had others who graduated in 1974. In 1975, the department was consolidated and became a full-fledged department offering Bachelor of Arts (B.A) in Fine and Applied Arts.

“And from 1972 to date, we are talking about 50 years traversing to 5 decades of having graduates who read Art at the university. So, we feel it is a significant period to celebrate”, he further said.

Filani disclosed that the philosophy behind the university was entrenched within its motto “For learning And Culture,” adding that it was not for fun that the alumni of the university were generally hailed as “Great Ife”.

He attributed it to essentially a thorough academic orientation that students derived when they were in the school which has placed it top because the training has to do with learning and culture expanded beyond acquisition of skills.

He noted that emphasis was placed on culture because students wanted to reinvent culture without isolating themselves outside indigenous culture so that there would be continuity and change.

 “The teaching and orientation eventually led a group of 5: Moyo Okediji and myself, Tola Wewe, Bolaji Campbell and Tunde Nasiru to start tinkering with the idea of Ona translated in English as designs, patterns and colors, which means that we have eyes for aesthetics.

“The concept and philosophy of Ona was beyond the practice of art and it was properly enunciated, and quite soon after we commenced, it became a movement beyond the graduates of Ife and was accepted as part of what we could be proud of in contemporary Nigeria art and beyond”, he stated.

He said that Best of Ife as a group exhibition, started in 1993 whereas ‘Onaism’ has started around the middle and late 80s, pointing out that the idea behind it was a reflection of the title of the exhibition “Beyond Onaism.’ 

“We realized  that as a school, we cannot be pigeonholed in a particular concept. Students should be free to imbibe, and when they graduate should be able to express. So we felt that while promoting the concept of Onaism’, we should also encourage those who bring in innovative ideas and new development and promote them so that we can have diversity which is what we have achieved,” he stated.

He listed the likes of Victor Ekpu, Wole Lagunju and many others who were discovered among the early starters adding that ‘Best of Ife’  at  some point  was the longest group exhibition that they’ve had because “we were exhibiting yearly to encourage students from the university to come up with works and exhibit with us, and it became a big show. Beside what this did was to popularize the concept of Ona and elevate the situation where each person has his approach to looking at his work and imbibing what he could do, and innovating what he could present.

“Victor Ekpu was doing Insibidi within the concept of