Young artists Olalekan Adebiyi, Christian Okwananke, Olumide Daniel, Stanley Ugonabo, Taiwo Owoyemi, and Obeka Simon are currently leading the sixth edition of Generation Future Masters curated by Mydrim Gallery, Ikoyi, Lagos.

The show has been consistent in promoting young artists and giving them a platform to thrive. Mydrim has provided endless inspiration to emerging artists through this series of exhibitions. This year’s edition features 47 works of genres that will bring about nostalgia, capturing the essence of the artists’ talents.

Adebiyi has an Ordinary National Diploma (OND) in General Art from The Polytechnic Ibadan (2014). He later obtained a Higher National Diploma (HND) majoring in sculpture from Lagos State Polytechnic, Ikorodu (2017).
Adebiyi is based in Lagos, where he runs a full-time studio.

Okwananke is a graduate of The Federal University of Technology, Akure. His works explore Nigerian folklore and has participated in different group exhibitions.

Daniel is a full-time studio artist based in Lagos. He started his journey of art at The Polytechnic Ibadan, where he obtained his Ordinary National Diploma (OND) in 2013 and proceeded to Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Fine Art degree, majoring in painting in 2018. Daniel works majorly in oil, acrylic and pastel.

Simon is a full-time studio painter based in Abuja. He graduated from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria where he studied Fine Art and majored in painting.

Ugonabo studied visual arts at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, where he graduated as one of the best students of Fine and Applied Arts and won the Chimedie Prize for creative excellence in Visual Arts in 2019.

Owoyemi is a multidisciplinary visual artist. He holds a Bachelor of Education degree from Obafemi Awolowo University. In 2015, he obtained a Master of Fine Art from the University of Benin. He uses junk aluminium cans of different shapes, sizes and colours to produce beautiful artworks using the repoussé assemblage Sculpture technique.

Speaking with The Guardian, Daniel who is exhibiting eight works, said: “One of my works, titled, Who The Cap Fits, depicts a man wearing an oversized cap. I used my life as a case study; I’m the firstborn of my family and I have a lot of younger ones, so, I am a father figure, taking responsibility bigger than my age.”

Speaking on art as a reflection of society, Adebiyi said: “When one wants to be happy, it doesn’t mean drinking or smoking. A lady does not put on ‘bad’ cloth to look sexy or attractive.”

Okwananke who is exhibiting nine works, said: “I have worked in an interior design company, a construction company, as a storyboard artist for a music producer. I do architecture design, 3D, storyboard for movies and advertisements, and, I have my own cartoon, Architect Chike, which has its episodes running since 2012.”

“I have so much going on in my head; when people talk about suffering, most of the suffering they are talking about is physical but mine is more of mental.”

Speaking on his expectation for the show, Co-Curator Mydrim Gallery, David Oluwatosin, said: “This year, we are bringing different experience, a bit of nostalgia and a cause to make people smile with each work; for instance, if you look at Adebiyi’s work, somebody joyous and in a free spirit mood. If we look at the country, hardly there is cause to smile but we need to make ourselves happy and keep going. The works will uplift spirits.

“The main idea of the exhibition is to encourage young talents, people who don’t have the opportunity to showcase their talents. “There are a lot of people who can’t draw but are in the industry under the guise of contemporary artists, but these six artists are good craftsmen, they are good.”