‘Oeuvre:’ a display, of culture, activism, nature and more

For eight days, from January 24 to 31, visual artist, Tom Sunday showcased 49 works delivered in various mediums including oil on canvas, ink on paper, charcoal on paper, water colour and acrylic. From development, to culture, politics, activism and everyday living, the pieces touched on a number of core issues which guests and all […]

For eight days, from January 24 to 31, visual artist, Tom Sunday showcased 49 works delivered in various mediums including oil on canvas, ink on paper, charcoal on paper, water colour and acrylic.

From development, to culture, politics, activism and everyday living, the pieces touched on a number of core issues which guests and all who saw them readily related with as some of them like ‘The girl and the rooster’ and ‘The fight over supremacy’ took many down memory lane, to their childhood.

There were others which featured elements of pop culture like ‘The Legend’ an abstract black, cream and brown portrait of Nigerian hip hop artiste, 2Baba.

Vibrantly coloured landscapes depicting landmarks like the Zuma Rock, agricultural representations like the ‘Cow and the crop’ and cultural pieces like ‘The Gumi Player,’ were all part of the show.

With Nigeria agog with preparations for the upcoming elections, ‘The Fight Over Supremacy,’ took a swipe at politicians “who show ego, greed, selfishness and raw ambition for power,” the artist explained.

“I used the cock is as a visual motif used satire and metaphor to express my idea,” he added.

The piece ‘Eka Mi’ (Women leader) pays homage to the African woman and emphasizes her growing importance and visibility on the continents’ political terrain as she also fights for the rights of other women in society.

Speaking to Daily Trust on Sunday said, ‘Oeuvre,’ for this his first solo exhibition, sponsored by the Turkish organization, Ufuk, he explored themes on Nigeria’s struggle for development, peace, love and unity.

X-raying marriage and the off-limit symbols of a wedding band, Sunday said “‘Njideka,’ is one nice, beautiful and loveable young lady whom everybody wants to connect with especially the young men. But they fail to understand that she is already handcuffs with a wedding ring. Which put everyone at distance.”

The display was not bereft of humour especially in ‘Disco Rooster,’ which the artist explained was to celebrate Nigeria entertainment and creative industry and how it has evolved.

On the various mediums he used, he said oil on canvas is his preferred “because it gives me room to express myself freely.”

Being a staff of the National Gallery of Arts, the Ahmadu Bello University graduate of Painting said, his passion to create helps him surmounts the hurdles of combing studio work and full-time employment. He said, “As a passionate artist, I always find and create time for my studio work which I do early in the morning before preparing for work or after work hours. I use those hours for painting as leisure.”

For many conversant with Nigerian university style when new students resume in October, ‘October Rain I & II’ were things to laugh about as they brought to mind, the famous ‘October Rush’ was echoed. Both pieces were of young over clad ladies with books and hand shieling themselves from the rain fall. For some guests were the pieces were a pun as they interpreted the umbrella use as shielding them from the many advances they got from older male students who were rushing at them as they went about registering to resume school.

For the Akwa Ibom state born artist, holding this solo exhibition was a challenge but a learning process as well.

“I have been exhibiting for the past eight years at local and international levels and felt it were time for me to make a compendium of my collection to show to the world,” he said.