By AbdulQudus Abiola Ojomo
* Express optimism in his creative enterprise, call for patronage
The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa; Vice President I of the Muslim Ummah of South West Nigeria (MUSWEN), Alhaji Rafiu Ebiti and Rector, Yaba College of Technology, YABATECH, Dr. Ibraheem Adedotun have showered encomiums on the founder of Halal Art Gallery, Alhaji Ridwan ADK-Osinowo for showcasing the beauties of Islam through arts.
They made the disclosure at a one-day salon Islamic art exhibition held on Sunday, December 3, at the Radisson Hotel, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos, with the theme : “Alhamdulilah: the Art of Appreciation”, saying his numerous artworks have been embraced far and wide by the Muslim community in Nigeria.
The event was attended by other distinguished personalities in the Islamic circle, including President of the Lagos Muslim Community, Prof. Tajudeen Gbadamosi; CEO Misbahudeen Islamic Centre, Alhaji Misbahudeen Mustapha; Vice President of Gbagada Muslim Community, Dr. Nahimudeen Ekemode and former Director of Medical Services, Central Bank of Nigeria, Dr (Mrs) Fausat Balogun, among others.
Alhaji Ebiti while speaking, said, “If you go to Lekki Muslim Ummah mosque, Obafemi Awolowo University Muslim Community Mosque, Ikoyi-Dolphin Estate Mosque, Misbahudeen Islamic Centre, you will see his murals.”
He expressed optimism about Islamic art, calling on individuals and groups to patronize his works. According to him, “This event is to create more awareness about what Islam is all about and to showcase the limitless possibilities that Allah has offered us in terms of artworks, creativity, investment opportunities and cooperation”.
The Vice President I of MUSWEN explained why some people could not appreciate art. According to him, “At times, people do not understand artwork except when the artist is there to explain. But in the case of Osinowo’s artworks, it is verses of the Qur’an which can be understood (without explanation from the artist).”
Rtd. Justice Ibrahim Olorunibe described the artist as highly talented and expressed optimism that the event will continue to be hosted in Nigeria.
He added,“We hope that this will be the beginning of this kind of event in Nigeria”
Even though calligraphy is part of Islam, Muslims in Nigeria seem not to embrace it.
However, the Rector of Yaba College of Technology, Dr. Ibraheem Adedotun who was at the art exhibition said organizing art exhibitions like this can help correct that. He said, “All we need to do is to promote it (Islamic art) and people will love it.”
The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa represented by Mr Lawal Ridwan, (Senior Special Assistant to the Lagos State House of Assembly Speaker on Islamic affairs) described the Islamic art exhibition as novel.
The convener, Alhaji Ridwan Osinowo explained why he chose the word: “Alhamdulilah” as a theme for the art exhibition.
He said, “Some people don’t really appreciate what they say when they utter this word (Alhamdulilah). So, I want them to come here and see what I have been able to illustrate and combine using calligraphy and colours with “Alhamdulilah.”
Speaking further, he said, “A good number of my calligraphy will help people to appreciate the content of Alhamdulilah. The artwork is deliberate because when you see something beautiful you will want to appreciate Allah.”
Asked if he has plans to open an Islamic art gallery, Mr Osinowo responded in the affirmative, saying, “Actually, our next move is to have a very big place of ours, because what we have currently is not that big. In shaa Allah, before the end of next year, we should be able to thank Allah for having our own gallery.”
He added, “Looking at the length and breadth of Lagos today and even Nigeria, there is nowhere you will see Islamic art galleries, I am not talking of Islamic shops”
The artist further cautioned Muslims not to take artworks with Qur’anic verses as a protective object, adding, “The artworks are meant to inspire you to think and appreciate Allah. I call it visual naseehah. It is meant to talk to you. All these calligraphies are not meant to protect you or anything of that sort.”
When asked what his major challenges were, Alhaji Osinowo enumerated, “One of the challenges we have now is purchasing power because before anyone could think of art, he will have to take care of other things.”
He then expressed optimism for government support to overcome the challenges, adding, “We are looking forward to government assisting us to make Islamic art go viral because it is not well-known like the conventional artworks.”
Recalling the volume of his investment and resources, Alhaji Osinowo said, “The time of production depends on the material and the type of medium you are using. When it comes to mixed media, it takes more time. Some can be completed in a few weeks. But when you don’t get inspired, it can take years.
“For example one of my works was not completed until after about 7 or 8 years when a show was coming up and I got inspired to complete it.”
While responding to questions from reporters, Mr Ridwan emphasized the need to promote Islamic art in public, especially during Muslim festive seasons.
He said, “It’s commonplace to see christmas trees all around us, especially during this December. For the Islamic one (Eidul Adha and Eidul Fitr), it is a clarion call to the governors and Muslim stakeholders to embrace such artworks and adorn our public places with them. I believe it’s worth recommending for them.”
The highlight of the event was a tour of the artworks on display, some of which worth millions of Naira.
Born in Lagos about five decades ago, Osinowo (a native of Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State) is a professional painter and an entrepreneur with versatility in graphics design and printing. He is a graduate of Yaba College of Technology, YABATECH, where he studied Painting. He was one of the first four pioneering Islamic artists in Nigeria when it was launched in 1997 at the then-Russian Cultural Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos. Since then, he has been the Amir of the Islamic group of artists. He has exhibited some of these works within and outside Nigeria and at a time in Makkah, (Saudi Arabia).
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