Tony Okuyeme 
Environment, people and culture form the focus of Ini Brown’s celebration of the diversity of the Nigerian rich geographical space.
Brown, who has about four decades of studio practice, flaunts his mastery of painting in his new solo art exhibition titled Africa’s Splendour, showing from November 1-23, 2024, at Artlab Gallery, Issac John Street, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos.
Though mostly known for watercolour medium, but the artist is showing quite a lot of works done in acrylic. Some of Brown’s works for the exhibition include ‘Tender Bond’, ‘River Market Harmony’, ‘Rusty Brown Roofs’, ‘Riverine Harmony’ and ‘Urban Tapestry’, among over 30 others in watercolour and acrylic respectively.
With the diversity of the themes, Brown continues to share his rich experience in creativity. For instance, in ‘Tender Bond’, a heartwarming acrylic painting, the artist captures the intimacy of a mother breastfeeding her child.
Brown shows that colours do speak as the soft blues and gentle greens of the painting create a soothing atmosphere, emphasizing the serenity of the moment. He dramatises the scene as the mother’s focused gaze and nurturing touch form a poignant triangle with the baby’s head, conveying deep connection.
Brown’s brushstrokes and subtle colour palette evoke emotions, inviting the viewer to cherish this universal yet personal experience. ‘Tender Bond’ celebrates the beauty of motherhood, tenderly rendering a moment of pure love and nourishment, frozen in time.
Also, his sensitive portrayal honours the profound bond between mother and child, making ‘Tender Bond’ a timeless and captivating piece.
Further displaying his mastery of painting, Brown depicts a riverine piece titled ‘River Market Harmony’, another acrylic on canvas, in which he celebrates his application of vibrant colour capturing the essence of three women trading on the river.
Each in her own canoe, surrounded by colorful wares, they chat and connect. The painting’s kaleidoscope of blues, violets, yellows, and oranges creates a stunning visual rhythm. Mirror-like reflections on the water add depth and symmetry.
Still on the diversity of the environment, the ‘beauty’ of chaotic and neglected housing system gets attention of the artist in the piece titled ‘Rusty Brown Roofs’, acrylic on canvas, showing a glimpse into a local landscape.
The artist escalates the depth of creativity with earthy tones dominating the canvas, evoking a sense of authenticity, just as the rooftops, weathered to a warm, rusty brown, stretching towards the horizon.
In the composition, a winding pathway invites the viewer to explore, as figures navigate the scene, adding a touch of community. Brown’s bold brushstrokes and textured canvas create depth, drawing attention to the intricate details of everyday life.
This artwork celebrates the beauty in the mundane, elevating the ordinary to extraordinary. Brown’s mastery of earthy hues captures the essence of local culture.
The curator of the exhibition, Lekan Onabanjo, assured that Brown’s rich works will give art followers the first tastes of the newly rebranded ArtLab Gallery.
From it’s former name The Content, the gallery is now known as ArtLab, asserting its growing profile as a major art spot in Ikeja, and beyond.
Two years ago, the gallery hosted ‘Through My Lens’, a group exhibition of female artists that celebrated the 70th birthday celebration of Mrs Modupe Ogunlesi, founder of Adam&Eve, a parent company of ArtLab Gallery.
The gallery made its debut in 2017 with seven artists in a group show titled ‘The Content’, which featured guests artists Dr. Bruce Onobrakpeya, Kolade Oshinowo and Lekan Onabanjo.
After earning First Class Honours from the Federal Polytechnic Auchi, Edo State, Nigeria, where he had his formal training in fine Art, Brown has been committed to full-time studio practice for nearly four decades.
His works have garnered numerous accolades and commendations, including mentions in books and publications, among which is ‘Artist of Nigeria’ by Onyema offoeduOkeke, a Ford Foundation Publication and an international publication, For Art’s Sake, A selection from The Yinka Fisher Collection, by Foundation for Contemporary & Modern Visual Art, Nigeria Artist:
A Who’s Who and Bibliography African Art, Smithsonian Institute, Washington DC, United States of America, USA. Brown had a solo at Abuja, FCT, in 2022, titled ‘Moods & Habits: Recent Masterpieces’.
He has over 20 solo and group exhibitions in Nigeria, South Africa, United States, Sweden, England, France and Germany. In 2018, he participated in ‘The Content’, a group exhibition of watercolour masters at Adam and Eve, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos.
