A Pakistani Nigeria based artist; Ms. Anila Adlan has advised Nigerian artists to explore more ways of expressing the abundant talents that abound in the country by showcasing their works to the outside world.
The artist made this point at the opening of a solo art exhibition: ‘Through My Eyes’, hosted by Art Addiction Gallery, Life Camp, Abuja on 4th August 2023, featuring her paintings and plants.
Anila, who has been inspired by the diverse and richness she has found in the many talented artists in Nigeria across various fields of art, noted that Africa is rich in culture and art and there must be a way of showcasing these works to the outside world and bringing investors and art lovers to appreciate these works so that more artists can reap from their creative endeavours.
Ms. Adlan, who is talented at expressing nature with very bright colours and deep passion, shows off Nigeria in her paintings with lots of nature, thereby portraying through her paintings.
The Director-General, NCC, Dr. John O. Asein, who declared the exhibition open, commended the artist for her very bold and experimental style, her authentic representation of nature and her brilliant use of colours to inspire hope. He noted that the theme of the exhibition: “Through My Eyes” was very apt as the paintings showed the deep love that Ms. Adlan has for nature. Her rendition brings out the beauty of nature and reminds us of the delicate balance between man and his environment. “Through her sculptures, the intricate crafts and the natural ambience of the gallery, the artist convincingly demonstrates her inner passion and spiritual harmony with the plants she paints,” Dr. Asein concluded.
He observed that the expressions in Ms Adlan’s works, show that an artist can at the same time be a story teller, poet, teacher, prophet and inspirator. “In few strokes of the brush on canvas, she shows us the value of art as a living subject and not just a two-dimensional expression on canvass. Through her art, she touches different aspects of humanity and fires our passion and encourages us to find hope for a better tomorrow.”
Similarly, the President, Society of Nigerian Artists, Mohammed Suleiman, in his commendation said that Anila has been able to draw close the cultural pact like a transformation of cultural exchange of the ideas that she has. “In all of that, you can see that her subject is physically Nigeria and her renderings are here; she is uniquely styled and has been able to pour that uniqueness into many of the pieces that she has on exhibition.”
The exhibition which is attended by many dignitaries and visual artists runs from Friday 4th August 2023 to Sunday 13th August 2023.
Amos Abutu
For: Director-General
