Mydrim Gallery, FEAAN Affirm Women’s Creativity with All-Female Show

Yinka Olatunbosun

In continuity of its annual tradition, the Female Artists Association of Nigeria (FEAAN) is set for an all female show titled, “Rights, Justice, Action: For All Women and Girls.” Hosted by Mydrim Gallery, Ikoyi, the exhibition which celebrates this year’s International Women’s Day will run from March 8th to 16th.

The line up of a multi-generation of female artists, versatile and experienced include Mireille Boale, Aisha Idirisu, T. Khadijah Adeboye, Maryam Umar Maigida, Adedoyin Adelani, Khadijah Hanisu Idris, Tabitha Odigili, Zainab Magaji, Uloma Asiegbu, Rosemary Chukwulozia, Keturag Chinyio, Christiana Obaseemo, Helen Ogbonnaya, Onyinye Ezennia, Mary Ogochukwu Aronu, Rahma Abdul-Azeez, Precious Longret Samuel, C O kola-Lawal, Omon Sophia, Abiola Shehu, Sinda Kwairanga, Uchechi Gift Udochukwu, Edna Abugewu Ekenimoh, Damilola Shobowale, Eucharia Mbashall, Timah Dairo, Jane Ugah, Dr. Ngozi Akande and Doofan Kwaghhool.

At a recent press preview of the show, the Vice President, FEAAN, Chinyere Ibenye, said it’s important for this annual show to be showcased at a female-owned gallery.

“Every year, we come together to use our work to celebrate women and talk about gender equalities. We have over one thousand female artists as members of FEAAN.”

The curator for the show and South West Co-ordinator, FEAAN, Adedoyin Adelani Bello, said the show is a way to “tell the world that we represent voices that need to be heard.”

Edna Abugewu Ekenimoh, with a specialty in textiles and painting, presents a work that is rooted in womanhood titled “Transformation.”

“If you train a woman, you have educated the world,” she remarked as she used a variety of colours to depict the emotions of the women in the work. With the subject matters of resilience, persistence and growth, her work reflects the realities of women across generations.

For Aisha Idirisu, this show marks the first time showcasing her work in Islamic Calligraphy. The award-winning artist explained that her technique is rooted in the acknowledgement of God as the source of creativity. Her work titled “Allahu Akbar” meaning “God is Greater” blends gold and blues to capture the serenity of the sky.

Chinaso Anozie, a portrait artist and storyteller reflects positivity in her piece titled “Sunflower Girl” which shows a woman that is warm with nature.

“This painting is an encouragement to women because sometimes we go through hard times and it’s hard to see the end of the tunnel.”

In her second piece titled “Black Beauty,” she reinforces black identity, culture, and resilience, portraying it as a blend of strength, joy, and profound aesthetic and emotional depth.

In the piece titled “Botanic Rain,” Fatima Akindele Dairo draws connections between human and nature. With line-textured skim, she articulates layers of represented reality showing that one thing connects to another in both the physical and the spiritual world.

“In Botanic Rain, I capture women’s ambition; I reimagine women growing leaves on their head and wearing leaves. These are organic elements of my work.” Her love of leaves also shows in her second piece titled “Earthly Adornment” which centred around natural phenomena, social life, and the normal life of everyone.

Adedoyin’s authenticity reverberates in her conscious use of thread, needle and acrylic. Her two children portraits titled “Longing for Tomorrow” and “Quiet Confidence” are contemplative, connecting with her trajectory as an artist that is hyper-focused on issues of women and the children.

She questions role models, upbringing and choices for the young children as well as how the family unit and the society at large shape the future of the girl-child.

For the Curator, Mydrim Gallery, the all-female show is not a competition with the male artists in the industry.

“The show is skill and talent driven. Many female artists are talented and some are self-taught. We just want women’s voices to be heard and be seen.”