MYDRIM GALLERY:30 YEARS

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A A N E X H I I B I I T I I O N O F T H E D R A W I I N G S O F S E V E N N I I G E R I I A N A R T M A S T E R S
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A N E X H I B I T I O N O F T H E D R AW I N G S O F S E V E N N I G E R I A N A R T M A S T E R S
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OLUSEGUN ADEJUMO - OLU AJAYI
USEGUN ADEJUMO - OL
U AJA
OLUSEGUN ADEJUMO - OLU AJAYI
OL
DUKE ASIDERE - EDOSA OGIUGO
DUKE ASIDERE - EDOSA OGIUGO
DUKE ASIDERE - EDOSA OGIUGO
AKU - BEN OSAGHAE - SAM OVRAITI
ABIODUN OLAKU - BEN OSAGHAE - SAM OVRAITI
ABIODUN OL
ABIODUN OLAKU - BEN OSAGHAE - SAM OVRAITI

Curated by:
Mrs. Sinmidele Adesanya
Mrs. Teniola Aluko


Photography & Design:
Adewolu Kazeem




NOVEMBER 6TH - 19TH, 2022

Mydrim Gallery
74B Norman Williams Street,
S.W. Ikoyi, Lagos.


+234 (0)805 183 2375

info@mydrimgallery
[email protected]
Instagram: mydrim_gallery.com
www.mydrimgallery.com





© Exhibiting artists and Mydrim Gallery

Preface



- YINKA FISHER


I feel honoured to be asked by this collective of fine artists to write an introduction for this
amazing project.


While each of these artists are versatile and have made their mark across di erent media,
they also excel in drawing and sketching. There are no better draughtsmen on the Nigerian
art scene than these seven artists who collaborated on this project. If one is searching for
examples to illustrate the definition of draughtsmanship as it relates to the art, the works of
these artists come as good as those of the old masters who wore the draughtsmanship
badge. Each of these seven artists has his distinctive style and this attribute comes through
clearly in their di erent renditions of the same subject. Their perspectives, their lines and
pencil strokes, their shading to accentuate light, depth and emphasis are so individualistic
or should I say egocentric. This phenomena is more pronounced as one examines and
appreciates this body of over thirty works created by these next generation of living legends
in the Nigerian art scene.


What also fascinates me is that these artworks have been kept in the 'cellar' for 20 odd
years!!! As a wine collector, I can safely say that 2002 was a good year. The 2002 vintage is
drinking well; full bodied reds and fresh whites; both are mellow on the palate. Also, this
vintage is commanding good prices as well. I want to believe that you can see the parallel
as I do! I would also want to believe that what we are seeing today and what we have at this
exhibition is the “first of its kind” in the art sector. A body of works created by seven amazing
artists, that have been put away from public view for 20 years. The works are now out to be
viewed, appreciated and now on sale. I'm sure serious collectors will buy across the board,
works by these di erent artists in order to get the full value from this wonderful vintage and
historical project. This would be similar to a serious wine collector buying 2002 vintage wines
from di erent chateaux.


So, appreciate, buy, and enjoy a 2002 vintage collection of artworks that is now more than
ready to be acquired. And while we acknowledge this incredible project, let's pause to
remember absent artists.

A Word Fr Mydrim




We are excited to be hosting “2002”, a historic exhibition of twenty-year-old
drawings by seven of Nigeria's master artists.

The narrative of this exhibition is newsworthy. Twenty years ago in the year 2002, an
art enthusiast , Miss Teniola Edu, now Mrs Teniola Aluko, in her bid to promote the
visual arts and particularly drawing as an important component, organised a
drawing workshop for seven young established artists namely Olusegun Adejumo,
Olu Ajayi, Duke Asidere, Abiodun Olaku, Edosa Ogiugo, Ben Osaghae and Sam
Ovraiti . The workshop which held at Didi Musuem, (a popular art space in Lagos,
Nigeria at the time), required the artists to 'interprete' a female model with the
objective of exhibiting the drawings at the end of the workshop. Not surprisingly,
each artist's rendering of the same model portrayed their individual styles and
perspectives.

As the adage goes “the best made plans of mice and men often go awry “… the
portfolio of all the drawings from the workshop suddenly went missing and were not
found till 2022…20 years later.


The excitement we feel can be likened to that of an archeologist who just dug up
hidden treasures. These are indeed priceless pieces stored by fate for 20 years during
which all seven artists have become renown master artists. Sadly Mr. Ben Osaghae
died a few years ago but we are thankful that the remaining 6 artists and the
convener are alive to witness this auspicious event . We are delighted that it is the
second exhibition in our season of celebrating Mydrim Gallery's 30th anniversary.


We proudly present 35 choice drawings by 7 master draughtsmen for your viewing
pleasure as well as to enrich your collection.

Enjoy.


SINMIDELE ADESANYA
Founder Mydrim Gallery





Fr Tenia The Cvener




20 years ago in conversation with Olaku, the idea of bringing
together a group of artists to highlight the place of drawings in
the artistic landscape was born. We felt that in themselves,
drawings are important expressions. With this in mind, we called
on Professor Yusuf Grillo to lead the workshop. The results were
captivating and I felt really good to have put it together. In
bizarre circumstances the drawings went missing! I am so
delighted that 20 years later I have the opportunity to share
these great works with you.


TENIOLA ALUKO

The Hine Of Lines



The sensuality of the female form threatens, yet it flatters.


The ecstasy derived from the silhouette of a woman is a resounding reminder that the
ethereal imbues the form.

There is an ideal woman on the dark tip of the artist's pen; she holds the court and is always
in her prime. Drawings 2002 celebrates the deft of today's masters as they take a peek at
this woman.

Segun Adejumo is a master draughtsman. Here, he gives a peerless rendition of air and
fragility, locating the youth in women as a continuum.

Olu Ajayi finds the little woman in poses that suggest her inquest on the possibilities of her
sexuality.

Duke Asidere invites the viewer into the pain and pangs of womanhood. The works are a
glimpse at observing a life experience.

Edosa Ogiugo brings the illusion of vitality through movement in his rendition of the female
form. His strokes are rich and thorough, running, yet still.

Abiodun Olaku idealizes the woman; he excludes the visage from the composition; his
woman is every woman.

Ben Osaghae locates his models in spaces with rest points, with obvious sedentary poses
that bite yet pry at the holiness of lines.

Sam Ovraiti is interested in the ethos of design. Much more than the fragility of the form is
also its location of strength with delicacy.

However, in 2002, Nigeria was beside itself. A religious riot erupted over the Miss World
Pageant scheduled for Abuja, Nigeria. The Miss World riots were a series of motivated riots
in the city of Kaduna in November 2002, claiming the lives of more than 200 people.

Drawings exhibition “2002" is a bold response by some of our best visual agent
provocateurs. With the simplicity of line and form, they are advocating free speech, ethnic
tolerance, and above all, the blessedness of the female form.


BERNARDETTE UMERI-MJALLI
Sachs Gallery



Olusegun Adejumo



Olu Ajayi



Duke Asidere



Edosa Ogiugo



Abiodun Olaku



Ben Osaae



Sam Ovrai

O lusegun Adejumo is a Nigerian Contemporary
painter. He was born in 1965.



He studied Fine Arts at the prestigious Yaba College of
Technology, graduating with a Higher National Diploma
(HND) in Painting in 1987. From 1987 to 1988, he served as a
Painting Assistant Lecturer at the Lagos State Polytechnic.
He also worked as an Illustrator with Advertising Techniques
Limited in 1988.


Adejumo's superior draughtsmanship is evident throughout
the vast corpus of his paintings, drawings, and illustrations
featuring human figures, society women, labourers, and
portraits. Watching Adejumo work with live models evokes an
atmosphere of the old masters. His art leans towards stylized
yet recognizable images of people and places drawn from
the urban landscape of Lagos and beyond. His artworks act
as social diaries, documenting how society functions.


Adejumo is a full-time studio artist.

“A thousd words fr a thousd thouts, y n a sound ”.


- Olusegun Adejumo

2002
Charcoal on Cartridge Paper
23 x 16.5 inches
D1

2002
Charcoal on Cartridge Paper
16.5 x 23 inches
D2

2002
Charcoal on Cartridge Paper
16.5 x 23 inches
D3

2002
Ball Point Pen and Ink on Cartridge Paper
23 x 16.5 inches
D4

2002
Charcoal on Cartridge Paper
16.5 x 23 inches
D5



”







O lu Ajayi is a professional artist with over 36 years experience in
studio practice and Art administration.



A former chairman of Society of Nigerian Artists (SNA), Lagos State Chapter;
founding member and Trustee; Guild of Professional Artists Nigeria (GFA).
Trustee; Visual Arts Society of Nigeria. (VASON) and a Fellow of Society of
Nigerian Artists.

Olu Ajayi is listed in several books e.g, ARTISTS OF NIGERIA by
OnyemaO oedu- Okeke, NIGERIAN ARTISTS by Bernice Kelly and 101
NIGERIAN ARTISTS by Chukwuemeka Bosah.

He was awarded “Distinguished Alumnus of School of Art and Design”, Auchi
Polytechnic, Auchi, Nigeria and a Lifetime Achiever award by Society of
Nigeria Artists (SNA) .


He has exhibited in Africa, USA, UK, Europe, South Africa and Canada.

His works have sold at the Bonhams auction.

He holds a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree from University of Benin, Nigeria
(2018); a Higher National Diploma (HND) from Auchi Polytechnic (1984) and a
Postgraduate Diploma from National institute of Cultural Orientation (NICO)
Lagos, Nigeria (2013).

:“ The magical ment presents self en the tip  the



arcoal ces in ctact wh the paper.


The spir is iediely eved, areciing the


model d sorting ical knowledge

fr the Artist's mory bk . Md, time d space,


trsm vibris th bece frozen  paper by the Artist… resulting


in the crei  a n replicable work  Art.”


- Olu Ajayi

2002
Brush and Watercolour on Paper
29.5 x 22 inches
D6

2002
Charcoal Stick on Paper
16.5 x 23 inches
D7

2002
Charcoal S ck on Paper
23 x 16.5 inches
D8

2002
Pastel on Black Paper
27 x 19.5 inches
D9

2002
Charcoal Pencil on Paper
29.8 x 22 inches
D10



e is one of Nigeria's most celebrated contemporary artists with a
keen following internationally and in his native Nigeria. Asidere
Hwas born in 1961. He obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree with first
class honours in Fine Arts (painting), from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria in
1988 as well as a Masters of Fine Arts in painting in 1990 from the same
university. He taught painting, drawing and Art history at the Auchi
Polytechnic, Auchi for five years before starting full-time studio practise in
Lagos in 1995.

He was mentored by Gani Odutokun, who had a profound impact on him
and his artistic expression. Asidere expresses himself boldly through a
wide variety of genre including pencil, oil, acrylic and pastels.

He has participated in and facilitated numerous international and local
workshops on painting and drawing, including COLOUR MASTERS (Auchi
Polytechnic, March 2011) and also in a number of the annual Harmattan
Workshop Series.

Asidere's passion for painting is reflected in his “Play Spot Studios”
workshop projects through which he encourages and inspires younger
artists.

Asidere has held over 16 solo exhibitions, including ‘DUKE ASIDERE
RECENT WORKS’ at the Thought Pyramid, Abuja 2009; ‘THE WORLD
ACCORDING TO DUKE ASIDERE’ at Nimbus African Art Centre, Lagos;
'ENCASED' at the Alexis Galleries (The Homestore) Lagos, Nigeria, May,
2013; 'DUKE ASIDERE - THE ARTIST AND HIS MUSE' an exhibition of
drawings and paintings, Omenka Gallery, Ikoyi, Lagos in 2013. 'MENTAL
SPACE' an exhibition of paintings and drawings, Wheatbaker Hotel,
Lagos, September 2016 and ‘COHESION IN COLOUR’ at ODA Gallery
2021. He has also participated in over 50 joint exhibitions in Nigeria and
Europe. He is a member of the Society of Nigerian Artists (SNA) and the
Guild of Professional Fine Artists of Nigeria, (GFA).

“A drawing should ctain more interesting informi beyd


a reference for her art piece.


Every drawing should have soul d erny wraed whin .


Drawings must cay enou is d pai.”


- Duke Asidere

2002
Conte Chalk on Watercolour Paper
23 x 16.5 inches
D11

2002
Conte Chalk on Watercolour Paper
16.5 x 23 inches
D12

2002
Conte Chalk on Watercolour Paper
16.5 x 23 inches
D13

2002
Conte Chalk on Watercolour Paper
23 x 16.5 inches
D14

2002
Conte Chalk on Watercolour Paper
23 x 16.5 inches
D15



dosa Ogiugo is a Nigerian modern impressionist painter. He obtained his
National Diploma (OND) in General Arts in 1982 and his Higher National Diploma
E(HND) in Fine Arts Painting in 1985 both from Yaba College of Technology.
Thereafter he worked as a secondary school Art teacher, Illustrator, Creative Director,
Lecturer and Community Advocate. He has been a full-time studio artist since 1992
with art studios in Port Harcourt and Lagos, Nigeria.

Edosa has participated in various group exhibitions, held a solo show “First Steps”,
Signature Gallery Lagos in 1995; a training with London Fine Art Studio, in 2014, annual
self residency with various studios in the UK since 2011. He has numerous
commissioned works in public, private and corporate collections across the globe.


Edosa is captivated by the free spirit and refined nature of movement. His themes are
from his environment e.g horses, female traditional dancers. He likens these themes
to Edgar Degas' paintings of ballerinas and Claude Monet's water lilies.

Edosa was the inaugural president of the Guild of Professional Fine Artists, (GFA)
(Nigeria) 2008- 2012 and is a current member of the Fine Art Trade Guild (UK) and the
Society of Nigerian Artists (SNA). He actively mentors young Nigerian artists believing
it is the only way to impact them positively and create an enduring legacy.

Margar Krug "in her bk ,


AN AR T IS T'S HANDBOOK (Merials d Teniques) 2007,


explained th drawing is a very eential cpent  art.


It is the proce  engaging our subjects d how our


interpri   we s fects the object being viewed.


She qued Jn Berger, “drawing is learning to s shapes d

reliships more aurely … drawing is discovery,… drawing fr


mory however helps you dredge your mind to


discover the ctent  your own store fr past observis.”






This for me is the phfinder.


- Edosa Ogiugo

2002
Charcoal on Cartridge Paper
23 x 16.5 inches
D16

2002
Charcoal on Cartridge Paper
25.5 x 19.8 inches
D17

2002
Charcoal on Cartridge Paper
23 x 16.5 inches
D18

2002
Charcoal on Cartridge Paper
16.5 x 23 inches
D19

2002
Pastel on Pastel Paper
29.5 x 21.8 inches
D20



biodun Olaku's talent can be traced back to his early days at his secondary school,
Baptist Academy, Lagos, between 1970 and 1975. He rode on the back of the
Aschool's tradition which encouraged art and craft through a sustained retinue of
qualified, committed and motivating teachers in that segment of the educational
curriculum. This, undoubtedly, left an indelible impression on his psyche. It was therefore
without any hesitation that he decided to study art at the next level of his educational
pursuits.

Described by his lecturer, mentor and inspiration, world-renowned Nigerian Grand-
master artist, Professor Yusuf Grillo, as “Primus inter pares”, ABIODUN OLAKU has slowly
but steadily, over a 41-year artistic sojourn, transformed into a master artist in his own
right. Indeed, he has become an irresistible premium brand in the African art market and
milieu, with an ever-growing frenzied following.

The solid foundation for this remarkably glorious, creative odyssey was laid in Nigeria's
foremost art institution, Yaba College of Technology, between 1976 and 1981. Here Olaku
had a comprehensive orientation for his professional life under the watchful guidance of
competent and committed lecturers and instructors ably led by master artist, Yusuf Grillo
and his lieutenants, late master sculptor, Isiaka Osunde and iconic master, Kolade
Oshinowo. This period prepare him to be a competent painter focused on the pursuit of a
timeless legacy.

An almost 7-year stint in the civil service between 1982 and 1989, after his NYSC
experience, neither hindered nor slowed down his vision of establishing himself as a
painter of renown, with a determination to carve an enviable niche for himself in the
annals of art history. It only fuelled the dream, because it was during this period that he
came across the 'National Collection' of the Gallery of Modern Art and had a brief
experience in public administration under his late boss, Master Painter Shina Yussu .
-
Olaku resigned in February 1989 and began his studio practice in the company of
colleagues such as late Alex Shyngle, Felix Osiemi, Bunmi Babatunde and respected
sculptor, late Bisi Fakeye, at the National studios of Modern Art, National Theatre, Iganmu,
Lagos.

Abiodun Olaku was born on December 29, 1958. He lives and works in Lagos. Olaku is a
respected member of the Society of Nigeria Artists (SNA); a founding member, inaugural
Vice-President and Trustee of the Guild of Professional Fine Artists of Nigeria (GFA); and
one of the Founders and a Trustee of Universal Studios of Art (USA), National Theatre,
Lagos. He continues to train, mentor and inspire younger generations of Nigerian Artists,
and also consults widely on professional art matters, among other activities.

Olaku is an avid sports enthusiast, with a special interest in soccer and table tennis. He is a
passionate fan of Chelsea FC, London.

"The nural abily or ski to draw, or exhib the


capacy for cpent drautsmship,


is no lger a prerequise to qualy as a respectable


artist these days... Or so  sms."


– Abiodun Olaku

2002
Pen Ink and Red Conte on Cartridge Paper
23 x 16.5 inches
D21

2002
Willow Charcoal on Treated Cartridge Paper
23 x 16.5 inches
D22

2002
Charcoal Pencil on Cartridge Paper
23 x 16.5 inches
D23

2002
Graphite Pencil on Oil Paper
28.8 x 17.8 inches
D24

2002
Charcoal Pencil on Cartridge Paper
16.5 x 11.5 inches
D25