Tola Wewe Explained

Tola Wewe (born 1959) is a Nigerian artist.[1]

Early life and education

Wewe was born in Okitipupa, Ondo State in 1959. In 1983, Wewe graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from the department of Fine Art from the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University). He got a Masters of Arts degree in African Visual Arts from the University of Ibadan in 1986.[2]

Career and art style

Wewe taught fine art at the Teachers College Igboegunrin in Ondo, lectured at Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo, was a senior artist at the Daily Times of Nigeria, and the general manager of the Signature Art Gallery in Lagos before becoming a full-time practicing artist in 1995.[3]

Wewe's works draw inspiration from his master's research on the Ijaw water spirit mask and the traditional Yoruba society, folklore and mythology. He is a part of Ona movement, a group of artists, scholars and critics committed to the exploration, interpretation and adaptation of traditional Yoruba symbols, motifs and concepts.[4] [5]

He is frequent collaborator with Nike Davies-Okundaye.[6] Gbolahan Ayoola worked as Wewe's studio apprentice.[7] In Prof. Moyo Okediji published a 149-page book, "Metamodern Vision of Tola Wewe" to commemorate Wewe's work.[8] [9] Wewe's work is also part of the art collection owned by Nigeria's largest private art collector Yemisi Adedoyin Shyllon.[10]

Iye Boabo

In 1989, Tola Wewe's painting titled "Iye Boabo" was stolen along with other works from the apartment of fellow artist Moyo Okediji at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. The stolen artworks included pieces by Kunle Filani and Tunde Nasiru. The theft went unnoticed for years due to limited communication means at the time.[11]

In 2018, "Iye Boabo" resurfaced when Arthouse, a prominent art auction house in Lagos, contacted Wewe to authenticate the painting for an upcoming auction. Upon recognizing his work, Wewe expressed a desire to know the identity of the collector who submitted the painting to potentially trace other stolen pieces. Despite initial communication, Arthouse ceased responding, leaving the situation unresolved and prompting Wewe to seek further investigation into the matter.[12] [13]

Politics

In 2009, Wewe was appointed commissioner of Tourism and Culture in Ondo State for a part of Olusegun Mimiko's administration.[14] His appointment was terminated in 2015 when he defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the opposition All Progressives Congress[15] and was replaced by Femi Adekanmbi.[16]

Exhibitions

Notes and References

  1. https://thenationonlineng.net/artists-work-speak/
  2. Web site: Tola Wewe - Biography . 2024-07-26 . SMO Contemporary Art . en.
  3. Web site: Untitled - Tola Wewe . 2024-07-26 . Google Arts & Culture . en.
  4. Web site: Ona : a revolutionary art movement in Nigeria Adetola F. Wewe . 2024-07-26 . Smithsonian Institution . en.
  5. Web site: Tola Wewe : rhythms of Ona - art from my soul / with an essay by Kunle Finani and introduction by Ben Osagbae . 2024-07-26 . Smithsonian Institution . en.
  6. Web site: Nike Okundaye and Tola Wewe, 'The Elements' 2020 - arch'd — artxlagos . 2024-07-26 . artxlagos.com . en.
  7. Web site: Ayoola Gbolahan - Artist . 2024-07-26 . www.coronation.ng.
  8. https://thenationonlineng.net/i-hate-being-called-politician/
  9. Web site: 2022-10-21 . Metamodern Vision, A Retrospective Exhibition of Wewe holds at Thought PyramidMetamodern Vision, A Retrospective Exhibition of Wewe holds at Thought Pyramid . 2024-07-26 . The Guardian Nigeria News . en-US.
  10. Web site: How I will preserve my legacy as an art collector — Shyllon, renowned art collector . 17 January 2023 .
  11. https://thenationonlineng.net/29-years-after-tola-wewes-missing-painting-resurfaces/
  12. Web site: Tola Wewe's stolen work, Iye Boabo, surfaces in Arthouse after 29 years . 29 April 2018 .
  13. Web site: 2018-04-26 . Tola Wewe battles to regain his lost-but-found painting . 2024-07-26 . Punch Newspapers . en-US.
  14. Web site: 7, 000 mountain climbers converge on Idanre Hills today . Vanguard Nigeria . 8 December 2010 .
  15. Web site: Why Agagu boys defected to APC in Ondo: The Obasanjo/Tinubu connections . Vanguard Nigeria . 16 January 2015 .
  16. Web site: Mimiko nominates four new commissioners . Vanugard Nigeria . 25 November 2015 .
  17. Web site: Tola Wewe returns with Footnotes . Vanguard Nigeria . 14 December 2011 .
  18. Web site: https://thenationonlineng.net/apewo-musical-linguistics-tola-wewes-painting/. The National Online Eng.
  19. Web site: Tola Wewe, the folkloric and erotic female anatomist . -Vanguard Nigeria . 10 October 2022 .
  20. News: Filani, Wewe, others for 'Best of Ife' @ 30 exhibition . Vanguard Nigeria . 21 November 2023 .

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