Multidimensional Artist Adeola Balogun
Multidimensional Sculptor Adeola Balogun, has been an accomplished sculptor in the Nigerian Art scene for years, his sculpture pieces are part of the social fabric of Lagos state in Nigeria were he lives as a professional Artist/full time lecturer and Head of Department-Fine Art, School of Art, Design & Printing. Yaba College of Technology, Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria in West Africa.
He's works are recognizable in the city where he has built his Art career, spanning over 20 years and they could be referred to as landmarks.
Adeola's ability to create sculpture pieces with whatever material he chooses is deliberate and well thought out not based on sentiments or economic status, they are based on awareness and Social-Political trends.
He has created master piece after master piece, in different mediums creating a distinct style for his art.
This time my focus in this blog, is his deliberate use of 'Tires' an obscure and rather difficult material to work with in which he has created an entire series of Tyre sculptures around folklore, culture, politics, society and environmental consciousness.
An Art series that has been both fascinating and interesting to collectors, who have for years collected Adeola's unique sculptor pieces all over the world.
As an Artist myself, I write about Artist's whose works I admire and the difference they are making with their art and I think Adeola is one such artists... Enjoy this....
ONLINE EXHIBITION OF MULTIDIMENSIONAL SCULPTOR ADEOLA BALOGUN
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| Tamed Steel, Welded horse Shoes, 209cm x 114cm x 7cm |
ARTIST’S STATEMENT
My creative trajectory straddles diverse media and processes in espousing my visual deliberations.
Conscious of the notion that every discard/ found object seethes with previous history and latent possibilities, I always seek to collaborate or imbue encountered materials, which have seemingly lost their primary usefulness with new meaning in relation to my subject matter. Used pneumatic tires are regarded as
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| The Master Drummer Shredded tyres, Steel and Talking Drum. |
In this regard, discarded objects, such as rubber Tyre, horse shoes and sundry discarded materials have been extensively explored to engage subjects as diverse as politics, culture, nature, humanity and survival in a multi-layered dimension.
Mind blowing 1, shredded tires,mild steel, saxophone, glass fiber
Endless Gyration 1, Woven Tyre, mild steel
Endless Gyration 2, Woven Tyre, mild steel
Defense Mechanism 2, Shredded Tires, mild steel
120cm x 72cm x 68cm
Exploring disused objects or materials in my studio practice is neither due to the dearth of fresh materials nor being shrewd with resources to work with. Rather, I am driven by the need to recognize and respect the inherent value of every creation and transmute it in the creation of objects of contemplation and critical engagement without being devoid of aesthetic value.
Discarded mechanical parts, bronze pieces, acrylic pigments, are at times, applied unconventionally to heighten aesthetic appeal.
Used and new musical instruments, such as talking-drum, saxophone and trumpets are infused into some of the works, not only to enhance their visual appeal but to serve as metaphorical allusions to issues I feel strongly about.
Mind blowing 1, shredded tires,mild steel, saxophone, glass fiber
92cm x 65cm x 48cm
People, places, books, music, myths, folklore and disused/ready-made objects do serve as stimulus for my visual contemplation's and multidimensional explorations in different mediums.
ADEOLA BALOGUN (VISUAL ARTIST)
Adeola Balogun combines a fully engaged studio practice with an academic career at Nigeria’s premier tertiary institution, The Yaba College of Technology.
He was born November 17th, 1966 at Ota in Ogun State, Nigeria. He graduated from Yaba College of Technology, with specialization in sculpture (1993/94) and Masters in Fine Art (MFA, Sculpture) at the University of Benin (2001/4), Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria.
He bagged his PhD in Sculpture (2020) at Delta State University, Abraka, Delta State.
Endless Gyration 1, Woven Tyre, mild steel
120cm x 72cm x 68cm
After his National Youth Service in his alma-matter (Yaba College of Technology), he was immediately reabsorbed as an academic staff in 1995.
He won the award for Best Student in life-drawing and sculpture in 1993/94 set. Faculty award of Visual Experimentalist of the Decade (2011) was conferred on him in view of his visual explorations.
Mind blowing 2, shredded tires,mild steel, saxophone, glass fiber
He held the curatorial portfolio for the Yusuf Grillo Gallery (2005-2012), during which he was able to successfully organize several art exhibitions for both staff and non-staff of the institution.
Amongst these shows were: “The Way We Are” (2005), by a group of artists in the school known as Danfo Project, “The Seed Phenomenon” (2006) was a solo exhibition by his humble self, “Unframed, Untamed” (2007), a solo exhibition by Raqib Bashorun, “Memories” was by renowned painter, Kolade Oshinowo, in 2008.
Adeola Balogun has staged over a dozen of solo exhibitions which include: Current Rhythm, CAMAA (2019), Institute of African studies, UI, Bubbles of Emotion (2017) at Omenka Gallery, Ikoyi, Lagos, Nigeria, Connections I & II(2015), at Ashley Gallery and Pumphause Gallery, Uttesberg and Trollhattan, respectively, Sweden (2015).
Mirage (2014), Quintessence Gallery, Lekki, Lagos, Nigeria, Matter Redirected I & II, Ashley Gallery, Uttesberg and Pumphause Gallery, Trollhattan, Sweden, Soundspiration (2013), Omenka Gallery, Ikoyi, Lagos, Nigeria, Ants and Giants (2011), Quintessence Gallery, Ikoyi, Lagos, Infinite Patterns (2009)), Nike Art Gallery, Lekki, Lagos, The Seed Phenomenon (2006) amongst others.
He has also participated in several group shows and a number of commissioned projects within Nigeria and beyond are to his credit. He was artist-in residency in 2013 and 2015 in Ashley Gallery, Uttesberg, Sweden, artist-in residency, ArtHub (2014), AbuDhabi, UAE amongst others.
The Percussionist, woven tires, mild steel, talking drum and discussion
Some of his selected public commissioned works include the late Michael Ibru statue (bronze, 2017), at Michael & Cecilia Bru University, Delta State.
The late Ayangburen of Ikorodu statue (2015), Ikorodu, Lagos, Obafemi Awolowo (19ft) statue, at Allen round-about, Ikeja, Funso Williams bronze statue (18ft), at Western Avenue round-about, now named after Funso Williams, and Sir John Glover and Madam Tinubu’s bronze busts, at the foyer of Union Bank building in Marina, Lagos, Nigeria.
Towards Achieving Distinction (welded metal sculpture, 25ft) and Symbol of Justice and Culture statue (bronze sculpture 26ft), commissioned by (Egnr.) Yemisi Shyllon were installed in the University of Ibadan campus in Oyo State (2009) and University of Lagos (2015), Nigeria respectively.
History (2015), a welded steel sculpture(11ft) and Outflow, an installation, are both at Galleri Ashley collection, Uteshberg, Sweden.
Endless Gyration 2, Woven Tyre, mild steel
126cm x 55cm x 38cm
He has participated in several seminars and conferences both within and outside the shores of Nigeria. Some of the workshops he has participated/facilitated include: Harmattan Workshop, organized by Bruce Onobrakpeya Foundation, Nigeria, Quintessence Nigeria Limited in conjunction with Gallery Ashley’s Workshop, Sweden and Art Hub workshop, Abu Dhabi, UAE.
Tamed Steel, Welded horse Shoes, 209cmx114cmx7cm
A large body of Balogun’s life-size bronze sculpture and Tyre works can be found in OYASAF collection, a private art foundation, established by Prince Yemisi Shyllon. Other notable art collectors and institutions in possession of his works in Nigeria and in the diaspora are: Galleri Asley, Galleri Trollhattan, and Kulturhuset Koren in Sweden, ArtHub, AbuDhabi, UAE, Ford Foundation, Pan African University, Nigerian Breweries, American International School amongst others.
Adeola Balogun (PhD)
HoD, Fine Art Department, School of Art, Design & Printing
Yaba College of Technology, Yaba, Lagos.
adeolabalogun.66@gmail.com