Somewhere in the East, West, North, or South of Nigeria, a century ago, a crowd would gather. The masquerade would step into the centre, its flamboyant, coloured mask vibrant and vital. The crowd would cheer—perhaps with a hint of fear. After all, this might be the dead come to life. The spirits summoned through these
Part of the enduring legacy of Kolade Oshinowo’s art is his ability to translate the essence of Nigerian life onto canvas, capturing both the serene beauty of landscapes and the dynamic energy of urban streets. Oshinowo’s earth-toned depictions of Lagos and Western Nigerian streets evoke a sense of calm and grace, transforming the everyday into
By 1975, the most popular artworks from Oshinowo, were the landscapes detailing Lagos,Abeokuta and many other states.But there was the abstract side of Oshinowo, like this mixed media artwork titled, TheConference. In ‘The Conference’, lines replaced colour, creating movement and tension across thesurface of the artwork. It’s a dynamic, adventurous artwork that presents another aspect of
Kolade Oshinowo mask paintings are rare. It’s a theme he explored in the seventies and the eighties, but has mostly ignored in the ensuing decades. It’s interesting about mask-themed artworks. It feels as if, with each passing decade, there are fewer of these artworks. That’s understandable though. In the seventies and the eighties masquerades and