With La Vie show, Fadase raises cerebral palsy awareness

For 17-year-old Ayomide Fadase (AyoSays), art is not just about life, but an indispensable catalyst for connecting people’s hearts with charitable causes.

At her inaugural show, which was hosted by Didi Museum, Lagos, recently, the young lady revealed the need to help people suffering from this disability.

While saying she spent 15 days creating the 26 works on show, AyoSays said that her decision was borne out of a deep-rooted desire to help those suffering from the ailment. “These kids have no one taking care of them and are not really mentioned in the media. All proceeds made at the event goes into the Cerebral Palsy Centre. I feel good that people are becoming more aware about cerebral palsy.”

According to her, “my journey into art was more of an academic thing. I was always told to draw straight lines and do a couple of other things. It was when I moved to the United States that I got the passion to practice art. I felt the urge to push it for a better cause, which is why I’m having my exhibition here.”

She said: “Before I realised what my dreams were, I was told to follow them. I’ve always had a fantastic support system around me. I’ve always been true to myself and never felt unable to express myself.

When it’s difficult to express myself, writing has helped me narrate my emotions and navigate my feelings. I come from a family of strong, driven people with excellence as a core principle, and I’ve always felt obligated to raise the bar. I was never forced to do anything I didn’t want to do, and when I fell, I had a hand to pull me up and say just keep going! That mindset has always been instilled in me, and I will never let it down.”

The renown printmaker, painter and sculptor, Prof Bruce Onobrakpeya, who was very elated at what he saw at the show, said, “from every angle, this is a success story, beautiful works and the motivation to create is very well founded and she has started very well. The sky is just the start. I want to praise her but I would also praise the background (parents) that is mentoring her. Most of us didn’t have this kind of encouragement growing up. We should also praise the school where she studies. The school has done so well to encourage her.”

He said, “The youth needs mentorship and the youths are important and can be mentored. We want other parents to do what they have done for their daughter. It’s where mentorship starts. They will grow right. If I do not believe in the youth, I won’t spend all my time teaching the youth and my time now opening up a workshop where the youth are being trained. Opening my house and studio to receiving young people and training them. I have an institute, which take youths, students, and the local students who never went to school at all.”

The master artist said government should recognise people like this young lady, who love arts. “They should be given scholarships. There are workshops places in arts, it should be made available for them so they can mix with other cultures and countries.”

Her father, Ayodele Fadase, said: “I’m seeing a fruitful future growing. So, all I would do as a parent is to continue to encourage and create as much opportunities for her to display, harness, cultivate and bring out as much of her internal passions and desires as much as possible, supported all the things to see that seed and water it because it is what people are doing that would make a difference.”

He said, “art is one, and other opportunities will come. She has discovered arts now; it doesn’t mean that something else will not come through I another few years. The beauty is that when she comes forward with passion, it is my job and her mum as a parent to continue to water it so she can succeed. It is her decision and I am hoping that when she does a large one, other platforms will come.”