Since Alexis Galleries opened its doors to the public, there has always been a reason to visit the gallery located at Akin Olugbade Street in Victoria Island, Lagos.
Notable for hosting the most exhibitions among galleries in Nigeria, the gallery has over time, become an attraction for artists, collectors, and fun-seekers looking for unique places to exhibit works, buy art or unwind.
For the artists, it has provided succor and a platform to further hone their skills, create awareness of their creative ingenuity to a global audience, and also for empowerment.
Presently, the gallery is creating awareness for Adedotun Fashina and Seye Morakinyo, two aspiring artists, through an exhibition titled ‘9ja Life’.
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9ja Life, an exhibition of painting and mixed media, opened to the public (though with adequate crowd control) on Saturday, October 31, 2020, and will last until November 7, 2020, at Alexis Galleries at #282, Akin Olugbade Street, off Idowu Martins, Victoria Island, Lagos. However, there will also be a virtual tour embedded on the gallery’s social media handles for virtual view, making the exhibition intriguing for both virtual and live views.
As well, the artists are extending the intrigues with their enthralling works. The duo, who have benefited from the support of the gallery in the past, is continuing with the gesture through the showcase of their recent works in the exhibition, which is expected to draw the public, especially art lovers and collectors to the gallery to see and appreciate the creative ingenuity of the duo.
As the title suggests, the two artists are using their works to delve into issues of life, creating awareness, educating, as well as, helping the viewers to see life from different perspectives, all captured in their works.
The two are creatively expressing their thoughts and views on issues that society reacts partly positive and negative to in the exhibition.
Taking a look at Seye Morakinyo and his works, Morakinyo is a prolific contemporary artist who works with colors and fabric. As well, he is an impressionist painter who draws his inspiration from his environment and the everyday activities of an average citizen.
He delights in colors, fabric amid other media for his works.
One reason to see his works at the exhibition is that some of the works are done with a linear impression, a technique he discovered in 2010.
Explaining the technique, Morakinyo said that it takes two to three weeks to finish a work using that technique; hence the work comes with premium quality.
“The technique is my signature and makes my works standout. I love it though I am going in other techniques”, Morakinyo explained.
On the other hand, Adedotun Fashina is a self-taught artist who draws inspiration from his environment, people, and everyday life in urban cities. He promises to delight viewers at the exhibition with works, which shed light on the chaotic and unavoidable processes of urbanization in the globalized and overpopulated world. He is obsessed with cities filled with slums and shantytowns overflowed with crowds, he will be highlighting further the major challenges faced in urban cities through his works.
In the tradition of the gallery, across every other exhibition, Alexis Galleries will be donating part of the exhibition proceeds to charity. This time, the proceeds will be going to Little Sisters of the Poor, a charity organisation that offers the neediest elderly of every race and religion, a home where they will be welcomed.
The exhibition is sponsored by; Pepsi, Tiger, Indomie, Lost in Lagos Magazine, Mikano, The Guardian, Wazobia FM, Cool FM, UPS, Cool World, Cobranet, Delta Airlines, Aina Blankson, The Homestores, and Art Café.
