By Henry Akubuiro
From painting of vegetation to humans and climate themes, Imoesi Imhonigie, whose works are steeped in realism, captures real time situations by taking viewers through the beauty of exceptional art creation and appreciation. Currently based in the UK, some of his works have been widely collected across the world from his studios while in Nigeria and now in the UK.
Among his works are themes that recount the story of rural and urban diversity in landscapes, streetscapes and other environment-related sceneries of the past, of which new developments have eroded in the past few years.
For the artist, art comes with a social responsibility: “The purpose for my art is helping reconnect humanity back to nature, which we have lost track of due to our busy day to day lives and urbanisation that has taken us away from nature and her healing powers,” Imhonigie stated.
“If you are too busy to go to Nature, I will bring nature to you in the comfort of your living room with my naturalism paintings and this is another positive way to connect with nature to receive its natural benefits,” he added.
In his world, nature and man are inseparable, so being in oneness with nature and attuning oneself with the Universal Force that governs the world should be respected. Among his works is a piece titled Harmattan (oil on canvas, 36 x 28, dated 2013), a rendition of the dry and mildly cold weather of mostly November through first quarter the next year in Nigeria.
In Harmattan, the rendition of hues that give more depth to the different layers of haze, particularly depicting horizontal view, truly generates a mastery in celebration of nature on canvas.
In the painting, the daytime period attracted Imhonigie, who disclosed that the hazing and misty part of harmattan “motivated and inspired this painting.” Nigeria, being a vast country of different geographical textures, from one region to another, so the shades of harmattan may not be the same.
“This scene is the area view of Odene Hill, which is very prominent in Ayogwiri town also because of its spiritual connotation and mysteries associated with this hill.” Odene Hill is in Ayogwiri Village in Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State. Ayogwiri Village is the artist’s native home where he was born,” he explained.
Like most artists in Nigeria, Imhonigie’s stint with the country’s commercial nerve centre, Lagos, always reflects in his art, specifically about urbanisation. Lagos, being a business hub for West Africa has its challenges, particularly in public transportation and small businesses.
Imhonigie, in the painting titled Old Oshodi Market, (oil on canvas, 48 x 36 inches, dated 2017), revisits a central public transport axis of Lagos, notorious for disorderliness in an odd mix of traders and transporters on the roads and train tracks.
Taken from a bird’s eye, Imhonigie’s Old Oshodi Market actually depicts a real-time situation of which the artist noted: “This is where you will see traders selling their market on the train tracks, this shows Lagosians can go extra miles to survive. You will be greatly amazed by the way this very busy market will be dismantled by the sound of the approaching train.”
Imhonigie graduated from Federal Polytechnic Auchi, Edo State, Nigeria, with a Higher National Diploma in painting and general art, majoring in painting in 1999.
His works also express the dynamism and vibrant nature of African culture including traditional religions and urbanisation.