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Zaria to London show honours life and works of unsung pioneer artist, Noserime

By Enifome Ukodie
26 November 2017   |   4:28 am
To honor the life and legacy of pioneer artist, late Rev. John Noserime Thomas, the family organised a posthumous art exhibition titled Zaria to London at Lagos Business School, Ajah.

Some of the works of late Rev. John Noserime Thomas

• Show Also About Deplorable State Of The Nation
To honor the life and legacy of pioneer artist, late Rev. John Noserime Thomas, the family organised a posthumous art exhibition titled Zaria to London at Lagos Business School, Ajah. It was also to showcase the creativity while he lived.

It was not only the works of Noserime, from his university days in ABU, Zaria, before he proceeded to Goldsmith College of Arts, London, that were shown. The exhibition also served as a platform to showcase works of other artists. Some of the artists in the bill included Prof. Rotimi Kalilu, Dr. Rukeme Noserime, Edwin Inyang, Adebanjo Fasuyi, Ayoola Omovo, Samson Ogundeji and many others.

Organiser of the event, Dr. Rukeme Noserime, who is Chief Lecturer and Dean of Student’s Affair, Yaba College of Technology, Lagos, also had his works on display. Noserime Jr., had works like thermoplastic engraving (Edo Grandeur), graphite and linoleum on display.

While speaking at the occasion, participating artist, Mrs. Ayoola Omovo, whose works were in black and white and abstract rendition, said the show was unique as it brought forth a pioneer artist in the history of Nigeria to p[ublic consciousness, adding, “Rev. Thomas Noserime is someone we need to know more about, especially his works and history. I think all artists need to come and see his works, what he was thinking, his mode of thinking, and his techniques in art. Today’s exhibition is all about him.

“This exhibition is also a means to talk about the state of the nation and survival, especially for women with children. The level of starvation in the country has been on the increase and these are some of the topics we are addressing in the exhibition today.”

Also, one of the sons of the late artist, Tite Odafe Noserime said his father would be happy to see that some of the works that were kept in the box and hidden from them had been brought out for the whole world to see.

According to him, “These are works that are older than some of us, works of 1959, 1960, 1962; works of over 60 years. They are no longer art works, but they are antiques. This exhibition is a way of documenting these works in art history. There is a story that needs to be told and this is the story we are telling, that John Noserime Thomas was one of the early artists in Nigeria, who was not a commercial artist, but a grand teacher of fine arts.”

Some of the works on display included a variety of prints, acrylic, jute, engraved paints, oil, mixed media, wood, terracotta, graphite, ink on canvas, and metal fabric prints.

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