Leading art gallery, Rele left the best for last in its exhibition calendar of 2015. It recently closed its year with its strongest showing (yet) and with its biggest artist- internationally acclaimed print master, Tayo Quaye, in an intimate event, sponsored by globally reputed French wine brand, Fat Bastard, which made its entry into Nigeria a few weeks ago.
The exhibition was Quaye’s grand return to oil / acrylic work and the first time ever in his decades-long career that he would be showing predominantly works from the medium. It would seem it seem it was well worth the wait. This grand return tied in nicely with the grand entry of the drink sponsor of the evening to the Nigerian wine market and its very first event- in the exhibition opening.
The body of work on display, titled ‘The Tamba Series’ – a work of progress since 1981 – is a risqué, layered sequence of works that records in bold brushstrokes and in cascading colour the –private- time a woman spends before bath, after bath and in the act of Tamba.
The artist captures the contemplative time a woman spends after bath in preparation to present herself to the world; before bath – the wait time or hesitation before revealing her body to another; Tamba – cleaning between her legs after an act with ‘another’ that deemed it necessary.
The series is to be seen, to be better understood. Guests at the event lingered for some time before the works enjoying glasses of Fat Bastard’s full-bodied white and red wines. They would late engage the artist in lengthy discussions about the inspiration behind the series.
The exhibition is a holiday gift to collectors everywhere, an opportunity to add works of value that may not come around again for years. A gift that keeps on giving, it will run through the month of December.
It is no doubt the best avenue to end one’s year artistically, on a high, the biggest showcase this holiday season.
See Pictures form the Exhibition below:
Truly and simply impressive.