ARTIST'S
STATEMENT
Much
of the meaningful part of life cannot be understood, or for that
matter described. How does one interpret the song of a bird?
The
act of painting, to me is a spiritual exercise. My experiences and
interactions with nature can only be interpreted and translated
on canvas: clear, pure and vivid by remaining true to my spirit
eye - which is more real and visually active than the perishing,
naked mortal eyes.
However,
I realised that to reach a satisfactory level in my work, a curious
excursion into the unknown realm of invented scenes was necessary
- welcoming strangeness, mystery and distortions, while abandoning
the security of observation of nature.
There
is something about going beyond a "good" painting - at the point
when you thought you have hit it - so that you push further into
unfamiliar zones; an exploration capable of tasking your highest
level of innovation and imagination... Carrying on till you have
tried to press it to a sort of ultimate ... At the completion of
such work, one comes out of the experience with his head as exhausted
as an utterly used battery.
Line,
form and colour are potent ingredients and a life-enhancing force
in my work. One is moved by the expressive possibilities of these
elements, if you are not prejudiced or bound by associations.
Since
"Tears in our time" in 1991 (my first solo-effort), I have continued
to focus on the plight of humanity, especially the African situation.
The
ugly occurrence of war resulting from social and political instability
has virtually devastated our continent. This has impelled me to
create such works as "Refugee episode" and "Blue, blue, melancholy"
(done with cut-outs from newspapers and magazines).
It
saddens my heart that while the western world is vigorously pursuing
and celebrating scientific and technological breakthroughs, the
people of Africa are unashamedly burying their "brains" and future
hope en masse in their virgin lands. One is troubled at the flood
of refugees that has germinated these part years.
Generally, life holds such enormous possibilities and I desire to
probe deeper into issues, happenings and experiences, unmistakably
rendered in my own language - just the way I see them.
Osahenye
Kainebi studied at Auchi Polytechnic, Auchi, and at Yaba College
of Technology, Lagos. He majored in painting. Today, he is a full-time
artist, with a spacious studio in Mende, Lagos. His works are in
numerous collections both within and outside Nigeria.
