OYASAF, in collaboration with WOTASIDE Art Studios holds the second lecture series titled
CONTEMPORARY
ART IN NIGERIA: CONTEXTUAL NAVIGATION THROUGH THE WEB OF HISTORY” to be delivered by Dr. Kunle Filani MFA,
PhD on January
19, 2013 at OYASAF conference
center, Okupe Estate, Maryland, Ikeja, Lagos. Time is 10:30am prompt.
Abstract from Lecture
The
dynamics of change in the 20th century Africa, considerably
transformed art forms that are typical of the earlier artistic traditions found
in the various creative cultures that constitute the present day Nigeria.
Within this paradigm shift however, is located the tensile strings of
continuities that unify the past with the present; thereby justifying the maxim
that culture is a continuum.
Despite
the staggered beginnings of Contemporary Art Historical Studies in Africa, a
more systematic classification and articulation of formal and contextual genres
seems to be emerging. For the artist, form is the outward expression of nuanced
experience. It is therefore plausible to examine contemporary art in Nigeria on
a historical construct that is premised on contextual narrative.
Dr. Kunle Filani
(Curriculum
Vitae)
Dr.
Kunle Filani hails from Ikole-Ekiti. He attended the University of Ife, (now
Obafemi Awolowo University) where be obtained a 2nd Class-Upper
degree in Fine Arts.
He
ran his Master of Fine Arts degree (MFA) between 1982 and 1984 at the
University of Benin, Benin City. He was supervised by Professor Solomn Wangboje
and Prof. Clarry Nelson-Cole in Printmaking, and taught the rudiments of
criticism by Prof. Doris Rogers. He obtained a post- graduate Diploma in
Education from the University of Lagos in 1995 and bagged his doctorate in
Visual Arts History from the University of Ibadan under the supervision of
Prof. Cornelius Adepegba.
Filani
started teaching in the tertiary institution since 1985. He was at the Adeyemi
College of Education, Ondo-then a campus under the University of Ife
(1985-1992), Federal College of Education (Technical), Akoka, Lagos (1992-?),
Federal College of Education Osiele, Abeokuta (2004-2012) as Provost, and Chief
Executive. He is an adjunct lecturer at the Institute of African Studies,
University Ibadan since 2009, and currently on Sabbatical appointment in the
same University.
Kunle
Filani reached the peak of his career as a lecturer in the College of Education
system when he became a Chief lecturer in 1995. He also served in many
administrative and academic capacities such as Head of Department, Dean, Deputy
Provost and the ultimate-Provost. He was once the Chairman of Federal Committee
of Provosts.
Filani’s
landmark contributions to art can be located in his research into art materials
and scholarship. He innovated the use of “Petro-polystyrene” for printmaking,
painting and sculpture. His insightful and numerous publications can be found
in local and international journals and books. He has remarkably influenced a
lot of students and colleagues with his pragmatic approach to teaching. As a
pioneering member of the Ona movement, Filani has consistently promulgated the
art genre and ensured its place in contemporary history. He initiated the “Best
of Ife” exhibition series and quite pro-active in supporting Governmental and
Non-Governmental art institutions.
He
is the president of Culture and Creative Arts Forum (CCAF) since inception in
2001 and holds the membership of numerous local and international art
organizations. He is a fellow of society of Nigerian Artists (SNA) and Honorary
Fellow of the Pan-Africa Circle of Artists (PACA) among others.
We look forward to your honoring us with your
invaluable presence and participation at the lecture.
Signed: Prince (Engr) Yemisi
Adedoyin Shyllon
Chairman/CEO
Omooba
Yemisi Adedoyin Shyllon Art Foundation
R.S.V.P
Olu
Amoda Emmanuel
Adigwe
Phone:
08122676902 Phone:
08028322578
