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Bringing ideas to life
By
Jack McBrams Chirwa - 28-05-2002 |
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Exhibition: The Thought...The Picture
Artist: Massa Lemu
Venue: Chancellor College Art Gallery
Reviewer: Jack McBrams Chirwa
Massa Lemu’s third exhibition, The Thought...The Picture at Chancellor College Art Gallery brings in a new phenomenon into the relatively stereotyped discipline.
Lemu’s paintings exhibit the belief that art should be what it is—creative and original. Through The Thought...The Picture, Lemu has been daring and carefree.
Lemu’s paintings are a journey from an idea to a picture. Although one may not be aware of that transition —the end result is a picture.
The exhibition consists of Lemu’s 41 paintings and two sculptures. Also being exhibited are Peter Motta’s seven paintings and seven sculptures collectively titled The Original Sin.
Both Lemu and Motta are third year fine arts students.
The Thought...The Picture shows how ideas culminate into reality. To bring out themes, Lemu has predominantly employed symbolism.
This is evident in a piece titled The Apocalyptic Eye of the Gods. An inspiration from a Nigerian novel Infinite Riches by Ben Okri, the painting depicts a variety of issues.
Lemu explains what he is trying to put across:
“At the back of a groaning mouth is an eye, the eye of a god which sees what is not visible to the human eye. This eye can prophesy the future. It is a prophet of doom in that it portrays human suffering which is caused by humans themselves.
“Instead of a reflection of light in the pupil, visible is a mushroom which symbolises a nuclear blast. The open mouth itself is metaphorical, it opens to the future. The groaning evokes the feeling of pain. Barbed wire has also been used as a symbol for imprisonment, detentions and suffering.
“In place of eyelashes I have used barbed wire and this juxtaposition of sharpness of the wire and softness of the skin only emphasises pain and suffering.”
Another painting that catches attention is Somebody Shot the Bird of Peace. The painting shows hands reaching out to touch a dove—carrying an olive branch—which has been shot in midair before delivering the peace.
Lemu explains that the paintings have relevance to the conflict in Middle East.
“They are always talking about peace but everytime they finish their talks, some suicide bomber blasts themselves up and other innocent people.”
Lemu says through The Thought...The Picture, he is expressing himself through art.
“My dream is to put down my spirit, my feelings, emotions and experience on a painting and let it live,” he says.
At the end of the day the artist brings out his thought and philosophy whilst at the same time appreciating his own paintings.
So far, he seems to be doing well while aiming for bigger things. |
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