MYSELF

My name is Babalola Oluseyi Stephen

I was born in  Kwara State, Nigeria on 22nd August 197X. I lived my early years with my grandparents in a hamlet when my parents left for U.S to study. The village is called ‘idi-ogun’ which literally means ‘by the ogun shrine’. The village is so named because the people worshipped ogun, the Yoruba legendary god of iron.

There I was accustomed to village life. The farming, fishing, fetching water at the stream, traditional custom practices, etc.

I attended Cherubim and Seraphim college, Ilorin for my junior and senior secondary education. I took a junior class in fine art. I became interested in art and any aesthetic object fascinates me. I read a lot about art, reading any article on art that comes my way.

After my secondary education, I did the IJMB ?A? level, and then I studied Industrial Chemistry in the University of Ilorin, Nigeria, where I bagged my BSc. (Hons) degree.

MY TRAINING.

I received my first formal training in Cherubim and Seraphim College, Ilorin, Kwara State. I read a lot about history of art and practiced drawing. I studied color on my own by reading books like ?Art: the way it is? by John Adkins Richardson. I took part in Gabrokolako art workshop organized by a Nigerian artist Kolawole Garba, a graduate of Fine Arts department, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, in May, 2000. The workshop was followed by an exhibition at the artist?s residence.

I took part in the 1st Arewa House Book fair, Computer and Arts expo, arts, crafts and film exhibition held in Kaduna between 14th and 18th March, 2001. My paintings were presented by the Kwara State Council for Arts and Culture and was rated the second best amidst other paintings by artists from all states of the country. I was awarded a certificate and a prize.

I staged a solo arts exhibition of 40 paintings titled ?The Third Eye? on 7th to 9th December, 2000 at the arts gallery of Kwara State Tourism Board. The third eye is all about the expression of mood. It enables people see my environment in my art from the artist?s (my) perception.

I as well trained under an artist, Amori Tayo, also a graduate of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

The most significant training I had was under Mr. Joshua Akande, a renowned contemporary artist and a member of SNA (Society of Nigerian Artists) during my mid semester breaks and up till 27th May, 2002, when I left Nigeria. He greatly influenced my impressionist style of painting and taught me the freedom of expression according to the artist?s mood.

THEME / PURPOSE OF MY WORKS.

The themes of my works center on the cultural practices and the present stage in development of Nigeria. The cultural aspects reflect my upbringing in a typical rural settlement. These include themes such as the homecomings depicting workers (farmers, market women etc) going home after a hard day?s job, ladies and children fetching water from streams and so on. I paint themes depicting urbanization, river scenes, dancers and drummers and jubilating crowds. These are the scenes I am familiar with due to my childhood in the village.

My love for my mother prompts me to paint themes depicting ?mothers?. The zeal for self expression and creativity enables me to use the intuition born of my mood, my personal perception of my environment and the urge to express my thoughts to make a wide range of abstract paintings which have deep meanings, and are opened to a lot of interpretations by individual observers. I also work in mixed media.

I love exploring my environment ?in blues?.

I believe my works will help encourage cultural blend and further educate people on the rich cultures of Nigerians, most especially the yorubas.

Thanks for reading. please remember to sign my guest book.

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