Art is often shaped by the way an individual sees the world, and no two artists necessarily arrive at the same interpretation of what they observe.
This idea takes centre stage on August 29, when Orisun Art Gallery presents Layers of Seeing, a group exhibition bringing together five artists whose distinct approaches offer different perspectives on contemporary art.

The exhibition, scheduled for 10am to 6pm at the gallery at Tropic Galleria, by Grand Square in Abuja, features works by Ibrahim Kareem, Anehita Aletor, Ololade Oletubo, Samson Yusuf and Deborah Ibeme.

Rather than attempting to impose a single aesthetic or visual language, Layers of Seeing allows each artist’s individual voice to emerge.

Kareem’s works draw attention through their use of colour, movement and form, creating pieces with an immediate visual energy. His approach encourages the viewer to engage with the work instinctively before looking deeper into its details.

Yusuf’s work takes a more contemplative route. His pieces reward patience, gradually revealing details and ideas that may not be immediately apparent.
Ibeme’s works similarly demonstrate restraint and deliberation, with carefully considered elements contributing to a measured visual experience.

Aletor and Oletubo further expand the exhibition’s range, bringing their individual artistic perspectives into the conversation and reinforcing the central idea behind the exhibition, that seeing is never entirely objective.

For the gallery, the exhibition provides an opportunity to examine how different artists can encounter similar realities yet translate them into remarkably different visual experiences.

At its heart, Layers of Seeing is also an invitation to slow down. In a world where images are consumed almost instantaneously, the exhibition encourages viewers to spend more time looking, questioning and engaging with what is before them. A painting may reveal one thing at first glance and something entirely different after a longer encounter.

The exhibition is therefore designed not only for collectors and art enthusiasts, but also for anyone curious about how artists interpret the world around them.

Visitors can explore the works at their own pace, form their own interpretations and perhaps discover that the most interesting part of looking at art is not necessarily finding the intended meaning, but finding something that speaks to them personally.