The 15th exhibition series of the Araism Movement titled Araism Movement 15 has been scheduled to open on Saturday, September 15, 2016 at the Nike Art Gallery, Lekki, Lagos. Opening time is 4.00 p.m.
The show, which will however run till September 17, 2016, will parade 13 members of the Movement led by Mufu Onifade and 2 guest artists. The show, however, is planned to celebrate the Movement’s 10th year anniversary.
Exhibiting artists are Mufu Onifade, Abiola Mautin Akande, Oludotun Popoola, Oluwanbe Amodu, George Egunjobi, Kesa Babatunde, and Bolarinwa Olowo, Jonathan Imafidor, Adeniran Odumbo, Tope Adebayo, Oluwasegun Phillips. They are joined by two new entrants into the Movement: Olabode Olaoluwa, and Emmanuel Eweje. The two guest artists are Fidelis Odogwu whose exploration of metal gives a new direction to Araism, and Ebong Ekwere who employs fibre glass to interpret his own idea of Araism. It is the first time in the 10-year history of the Movement that guest artists are included in its exhibition series. The show will parade a total of 61 artworks – 57 by the thirteen members and 4 by the two guest artists.
Although Araism painting technique, invented by Mufu Onifade, was launched in 1988 with his solo exhibition of 32 paintings, the Araism Movement was established and formally launched on Saturday, July 22, 2006 with an exhibition of paintings in Araism technique by Mufu Onifade who founded the group and five of his disciples namely Olaniyi Omojuwa, Tope Oguntuase, Dotun Popoola, Abiola Mautin Akande and Jonathan Ikpoza. The epoch-making event was held at the Bruce Onobrakpeya’s Harmattan Workshop Gallery, Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria. That maiden exhibition was employed to re-launch the phenomenon of the painting technique to the sensibilities of artists, art writers, gallery owners, the arts community and the general public. With the emergence of the Movement and its activities in the last 10 years, it becomes much easier to distinguish between the technique of, and styles in, Araism. This is made possible by an array of styles developed by Mufu Onifade and other outstanding members of the Movement.
In the last ten years, Araism Movement has developed its membership base, and successfully expanded its scope. So far, it has staged fourteen local exhibitions (nine in Lagos, three in Abuja) and one international exhibition held at the Studio 18 in the Pines, Pembroke Pines, Florida, USA in 2014. The forthcoming 15th edition holding at the Nike Art Gallery coincides with the 10th anniversary of the Movement and it promises to be a show of high quality and standard.
