Ajiboye exhibits 40 years of works

If you are wondering who the photographer of this lovely picture is then you are making a big mistake. It is not a photograph. It is an artist’s portrait from the rich conceptual power of Josy Ajiboye.”

The above was a page editorial referral, which accompanied a highly realistic painting by Josy Ajiboye’s paintings. The artist who has been involved in cartoons, drawings and painting for 40 years is exhibiting his works of this period at the National Council for Arts and Culture Iganmu, Lagos.

The exhibition that ends today is showcasing some Ajiboye’s finest pieces, it chronicles the outstanding achievements and artistic initiatives of Ajiboye who has for years used the platform of arts as a vehicle to channel his contributions and give back to the society.

Talking on his choice of arts, Ajiboye said, “ These days it is always easy to hide under the umbrella of abstraction and paint anything and call it a gigantic name and title it in a way that somebody who is not an artist is looking at the artists like since they are graduates of arts they must be saying something the viewer does not understand.”

He continued, “I paint for people so they can see, perceive and understand and understand, there is no need arguing with viewers about what a work looks like, they should look at it and relate to it without explanation, for instance, I don’t need to write a long story to tell my viewer what my works are about, does it mean we don’t know anything or cannot enjoy anything?, he asked.

Adding, “before I do a job, I conceptualise it with my inner eye, then I pick the models. My works are all about culture and when people see what they can relate to then their perception will be fine, arts is a universal language and that is what I have in mind when working.”

Asked if efforts have been financially rewarding so far, Ajiboye said, “Whenever you talk about how much you earn in your profession, then this where a crook can succeed. Art is a passion a real artist loves his work so much that if he doesn’t do it, he wouldn’t do anything else. That is what makes me happy and that is what kept me at Daily Times for that long. Even after I left they still asked me to do what I could still do for them, that is my fulfillment because now we are not talking of what I was earning but what I am capable of doing, what makes people happy. If you think about money, it will never be enough for anybody.”

The host of the event, the Director general, NCAC, Dayo Keshi, represented by Deputy Director NCAC, said, the parastatal was glad to be part of the historic growth and development of the great achiever. “We at the NCAC are proud and delighted to be part of this worthy cause. It is therefore my sincere hope that this historic effort by this icon will positively impact the cultural landscape of Nigeria.
The Ojora of Ijora, His Royal Magesty Oba Fatai Aremu Aromire, Engr. Yemisi Shyllon, Mufu Onifade and others witnessed the event.