A PEEK INTO ERELU’S PRIVATE COLLECTION EXHIBITION

A  PEEK INTO ERELU’S PRIVATE COLLECTION EXHIBITION

Yinka Olatunbosun
A visual treat awaits art aficionados at Terra Kulture, Victoria Island Lagos. Deviating from its tradition of showcasing artists, the gallery has opened its doors from April 25 to May 5 just to welcome curious feet that wish to catch more than just a glimpse of the private collection of the Erelu Kuti IV of Lagos, HRH Erelu (Dr.) Abiola Dosunmu. A successful businesswoman, Erelu is regarded as the Queen Mother of Lagos. In addition to her interests in oil and gas, real estate and agricultural industries, she has a good taste in arts which explains the exotic nature of her collection.

On the Terra Kulture gallery walls now hang pieces from leading artists such as Bruce Onobrakpeya, Fred Archibong, Kolade Oshinowo, Godwin Adesoye, Samuel Addo, Mike Omoighe, Emmanuel Inua, Toni Anthony Ogunde, S.U Okezie, Victor Ehikhamenor, Bolaji Ogunwo, Amonis, Allen Eligwe, Digi, Sina A Yussuf and Joseph Eze.

One key motivation for this show is to refuel the interests of the public in art pieces from the masters of the game. It is also an avenue into the world of Erelu especially on how she engages with her cultural roots. For instance, in the 2009 metal foil relief work by Onobrakpeya, the motif of royalty is a reflection of Erelu’s ancestral heritage. In another piece of the same medium, titled “Horns of Freedom”, the underlying message will resonate with students of history who are familiar with the story of the Oba of Lagos, Dosunmu and how he was forced to cede Lagos to Britain in 1861. Lagos has remained a reference point while tracing the roots of trans-Atlantic slave trade. Hence, having a piece that celebrates freedom is not just for the love of beauty but the deeper aesthetics buried in every stroke of the brush.

Adesoye’s piece, titled “Morning Market”, must have made quite an impression on Erelu who had long pushed the Aso Oke business into a multi-billion-dollar investment. With a shop on the famous Bond Street London, Erelu promoted the Yoruba culture through beautiful fabric designs and exotic taste for perfection. Erelu must have been drawn to Adesoye’s technique of hybridization of charcoal and acrylic.
Ado’s oil on canvas painting, titled ‘Dignity of Labour”, is described as one of Erelu’s most prized possessions for over 30 years. The work alludes to existentialism with the sub-themes of patience and struggle of life. Meanwhile, Inua’s mixed media painting, titled “Harvest”, was born out of Erelu’s accidental meeting with the artist on the foyer of the prestigious Hilton Hotel, Abuja where he had a permanent exhibition space. His mixed media works are quite remarkable for their beautiful colours as well as the artist’s low relief technique. Later, Erelu commissioned him to create the lioness which he did.

“Dancers’, Okezie’s well-over 60-year old painting celebrates womanhood with its depiction of African women doing a simultaneous movement and is rated as one of Erelu’s favourites. Eligwe, one of the new generation artists has enticed Erelu with some of his acrylic paintings that accentuates African motifs. Erelu is known to support budding artists and has demonstrated strong affinity for cross-cultural art.

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