For photography, painting, Emore siblings make home outing

Oritsegbemi and Oghenemeyoma Emore made their entry into Lagos art landscape, currently showing painting and photographic works titled I am, for two weeks at Nike Gallery, Lekki, Victoria Island, Lagos. According to Oghenemeyoma, about 30 works will be on display in the artists’ first joint outing in Nigeria. They are hopeful that the show will expose their works to collectors and aficionados in Lagos.

“I’m very happy for this opportunity to showcase my photography in Nigeria for the first time. It is a dream come true because it will offer me the space to show the works I shot over the years,” said Oritsegbemi, who confessed to being inspired by nature, love of the environment and documenting everyday social realities. According to the young debutant, going into photography is not just as a result of curiosity, but one driven by serious passion in telling stories about life and people.

“For me, this is a wonderful outing because we have heard much about art in Nigeria and this is one opportunity where we are glad to start our creative journey from our home country. I also like to use this opportunity to say that I am impressed by what Nigerian artists are doing. Their effort and achievements inspired us to come down home and mount this joint exhibition,”Oritsegbemi added.

Oghenemeyoma Emore is a 19 year-old young graduate with passion for visual arts, while her elder brother, Oritsegbemi, 21, is gifted in photography and documenting scenes.

Since her undergraduate days, Oghenemeyoma has been churning out diverse paintings and drawings just as Oritsegbemi the brother, is capturing engaging scene and landscapes.

Oghenemeyoma started the journey to creativity by enrolling at Lycee Francais Louis Pasteura, in Nigeria, before proceeding to University of Worcester in the United Kingdom. He then graduated and participated in her first group art exhibition.

The artists got homely parental supports, as he said, “My father egged me and my brother on how to draw and paint. Learning the ropes of drawing from him made me to go for art related courses in my career.”

“I use acrylic on Ankara, which is my special medium over the years. And my pieces always come out colourful,”she said.

Oghenemeyoma is a graduate of the University of Worcester, U.K., whose collection of paintings, are mainly produced through what she called acrylic on ankara. Oritsegbemi would spice up the show with some of his photo images.

According to curatorial information, the exhibitors are young, but their works reflect deep social themes like love, beauty, nature, environment, health, religion and other philosophical themes.

The works vary, from abstract to naturalism, while there are also surreal pictures. Beyond the conventional acrylic on ankara, there are mixed media pieces.

Oghenemeyoma gives an insight into what inspired her, adding, “Our tradition of painting dates back to our father and family. Our father was the first person that taught us how to draw on canvas.

“I have also followed the trends of modern art with several world class artists. Indeed, contemporary art in Nigeria is doing well and that explains why we are in Nigeria for this exhibition, which is, especially, noteworthy because it will present our works (painting form) for the first time in Nigeria.

Oritsegbemi noting, “I am extremely happy to be given the opportunity to show my photo works in Nigeria. I believe this will be an opportunity to showcase what I have done, over the years, to the public.”