“When a way is blocked, MIXED MEDIA there are another hidden ways that need to be traces2023 99 unraveled through one’s creative dexterity.” -Yusuf Durodola 98 traces2023
FINGERS ARE NOT EQUAL WHAT DO YOU BRING TO THE TABLE? Mixed media 107cm x 107cm Mixed media 2021 107cm x 107cm 2021 100 traces2023 traces2023 101
VISION, Mixed media, 74cm x 69cm, 2022 traces2023 103 102 traces2023
OKE LOWO AFUNNI NGBE COMPOSITE Mixed media 93cm x 74cm Mixed media 2023 107cm x 117cm 2021 104 traces2023 traces2023 105
FIRIGBON OSI LEKUN..., Acrylic and pastel on canvas, 71cm x 110cm, 2022 traces2023 107 106 traces2023
BOGIRI O LANU... CITY REALITY Mixed media 102cm x 92cm Mixed media 2022 110cm x 110cm 2022 108 traces2023 traces2023 109
OBIRI L’AYE, Mixed media, 51cm x 90cm, 2023 traces2023 111 110 traces2023
WHO IS IN THE GARDEN II? WHO IS IN THE GARDEN III? Mixed media 60cm x 53cm Mixed media 2023 60cm x 53cm 2023 112 traces2023 traces2023 113
IRONY OF PROTECTION MYSTERY Mixed media 49cm x 44cm Mixed media 2021 76cm x 84cm 2022 114 traces2023 traces2023 115
“God does not bless FORM AND emptiness. His creative blessings shower on ORGANISATION those that are spontaneously working.” traces2023 117 -Yusuf Durodola 116 traces2023
OMO ENI ONI SE IDI BEBERE… I OMO ENI ONI SE IDI BEBERE… II Acrylic and pastel on canvas 112cm x 95cm Acrylic and pastel on canvas 2021 112cm x 95cm 2021 118 traces2023 traces2023 119
IJA O DOLA… ENI LORI KONI FILA… Acrylic and pastel on canvas 112cm x 95cm Acrylic and pastel on canvas 2021 112cm x 95cm 2021 120 traces2023 traces2023 121
KARIN KAPO… LAALA TOROKE... Ink and maker on Acid-free paper 51cm x 61cm Acrylic and pastel on canvas 2021 112cm x 95cm 2021 122 traces2023 traces2023 123
IGI GOGORO MAGUN MI LOJU … traces2023 125 Acrylic and pastel on canvas 112cm x 95cm 2021 124 traces2023
“No mistake in art if you MURAL are genuinely creative. Not that you will not traces2023 127 make mistakes but it will take you to another creative injection.” -Yusuf Durodola 126 traces2023
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ASCENDING AND DESCENDING: “Descending does not require the same energy as THE REALITY OF LIFE ascending. It is easy to come down but challenging Acrylic, ink and pastel on wood panel to rise. In between the two lies your character which 2023 requires your sincere curatorial sense.” 134 traces2023 -Yusuf Durodola traces2023 135
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“He who thinks he knows PROJECT it all, knows nothing.” traces2023 141 -Yusuf Durodola 140 traces2023
PROJECT traces2023 143 ,, , “AKOMONA” (Guiding Principles) Acrylic, ink, and oil pastel on canvas, 274.5cm x 152.5cm, 2023 142 traces2023
TITA RIRO LAA N’KOLA... traces2023 145 Acrylic and pastel on canvas 152cm x 146cm 2023 144 traces2023
ANGBA OROMODIE LOWO IKU... AIFI AGBA FUN AGBA... Acrylic and pastel on canvas 76cm x 61cm Acrylic and pastel on canvas 2023 76cm x 61cm 2023 146 traces2023 traces2023 147
OGUN OMODE... ILE NI APOTI NJOKO DEDI Acrylic and pastel on canvas 76cm x 61cm Acrylic and pastel on canvas 2023 76cm x 61cm 2023 148 traces2023 traces2023 149
Performance Art PERFORMANCE is a three-dimensional art form (Moving Sculpture) traces2023 151 with the ability to perform live actions. This could as well be seen as a fourth- dimensional art form. -Yusuf Durodola 150 traces2023
Procession of traces2023 153 performers (OAU Students) during the enactment of a performance IBUSO OGOTA. Photo credit: Benjamin Oladapo 152 traces2023
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ABOUT THE RESEARCHER Yusuf Durodola is a Guinness World Record Achiever (Largest Painting by Number) for Ecole de dessin, Lagos, DURODOLA, Yusuf Olanrewaju Nigeria. He is the founder and artistic director of Artegun Foundation, a platform vision to nurture the creativity of 158 traces2023 young artists and o er a di erence in curative experience strategically to promote art. He is a change-provoking recycled artist, deeply thoughtful conversational painter, inspired performance artist, distinguished curator, and impeccable creative director. He is one of the most prominent and influential multimedia visual artists in the Nigerian Art Industry. He was born in Ibadan, Oyo State. He attended Federal College of Education (Technical) Akoka where he received a Nigerian Certificate of Education majored in Painting and Graphics. He proceeded to the University of Lagos where he obtained his degree in Visual Arts and attained his Master's degree from the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria. His absorbing paintings were included in the 2022 Netflix Limited Series: Blood Sisters. They are also widely collected by the Nike Art Gallery in Lagos, Nigeria, Madlozi Art Gallery, South Africa, Alexis Art Gallery, Nigeria and private individual collections around the world. His paintings are everlasting archives dedicated to protecting African traces2023 159
traditions and mores; Nigerian heritage and culture with particular His stimulating recycled works have been exhibited locally and emphasis on his indigenous background as a Yoruba o spring. internationally. He collaborated with the United States Classical Pianist Pauline Yang in a performance in 2022. Photographs from His works communicate the numerous perspectives, perceptions, Yusuf Durodola's performance art have been used as publication behaviours, and mindset of individuals who exist in his immediate covers including Stephanie Newell's Histories of Dirt; Media and environment. His practice seeks to stir, engage, stimulate, refresh, Urban Life in Colonial and Postcolonial Lagos. He performed at a and spur human minds towards a state of consciousness special remembrance show of image collage he spearheaded to beneficial to humanity and the world as a whole. Thereby pay homage to the late master artist Yusuf Grillo. As a revered provoking favorable change to occur and disrupt the mentality of performance artist, he has shared the stage with other renowned \"business as usual\" which is reflected in selfish leadership, performance artists like Jelili Atiku. His performances have been disregard for inherited customs, and improper waste featured in both historical, physical and virtual art shows management. including the Obafemi Awolowo University of Ile-Ife 60th Anniversary, Lagos Book Art and Craft Festival, Iwaya Community His recycled works headlined the first found objects art festival in Art Biennial, UMNY AMA 2020, India. Nigeria: ARTMIABO INTERNATIONAL ART FESTIVAL 2022. He was featured in the first upcycled recycled group art exhibition in Yusuf has served as co-organizer, facilitator, curator/co-curator, Nigeria, Fact File 2021, by Thought Pyramid Art Centre. resource person, and creative director to several art events such as SPOTLIGHTS Arts and Artists Review (2022), Nike Art Gallery in He employs African symbols and draw inspiration from Yoruba partnership with Artegun Foundation; Ajorin Metal Exhibition cosmology (language, philosophy, adages, oral tradition, and (2020), Thought Pyramid, Lagos; Chronicle of Confinement: Africa moral expression). These include the culture of his immediate (2020), New York; UMNY AMA 2020, India; Trash to Wealth environment, oftentimes projected through di erent art forms. (2020), Jelosimi, Lagos; Striding Bodies (2020), New York; Lock Based on his belief that art has a strong connection to our Unlock (2020), India; Grandeur Of Epeland (2016), Yaba School of sustainability, he uses his body as a mobile object in public spaces Art; 2017 October Rain Exhibition, SNA Lagos. to bring the healing power of art to the consciousness of the populace. traces2023 161 160 traces2023
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSI am beholden to the Greatest Creator- the God Almighty A big thank you to my God-sent mummy Dr. Chief Mrs. Nike for the possibility of life that offered me the privilege to Okundaye for her immense support and encouragement. Special pursue and achieve this academic accomplishment. gratitude to my darling wife, Modinat Durodola, and my children (Ziyahdat, Rahmat, and Fareedat Durodola) for making this A profound gratitude goes to my amiable supervisor who programme possible with their prayers and support. I am thankful also served as my painting lecturer and presently the to God for making you all a component of my existence. current Head of the Department, Dr. Olusegun Ajiboye, a sociable mentor for navigating my artistic highway in the I appreciate all the contributors in different capacities for their course of this study. You are indeed a father in a scholarly generous input in the course of this study. I say thank you to my garment. colleagues from other units for their prompt checking up on me. I specially acknowledge Mr. Hakim Dipeolu, you are indeed a God- I sincerely appreciate the encouragement of the lecturers sent friend. I pray the God Almighty will surely reward you for and all the non-teaching staff of the Fine Art Department being there always. for their great support that uplifted my spirit to complete this programme. I am indebted to my friend, supporter, and staunch photographer Benjami Oladapo for his immense contribution. I say a big thank In the same vein, I seize this opportunity to express my you to my mechanical engineer who showed me the spirit of heartfelt gratitude to the entire fine art students who brotherhood and love. Special appreciation to Tosin Jekami for participated in my performance, and also extend their his great support in the course of this research. helping hands in supporting my creative activities throughout my stay. My sincere appreciation goes to my May God Almighty in His infinity mercy bless you all. great friend and creative colleague Dotun Popoola who also served as an art exhibition curator for 60x60x60 of OAU Yusuf Durodola celebration alongside Dr. Kehinde Adepegba, Mr. Wole Oyeniyi and the entire team for the unique opportunity traces2023 163 created to accommodate my performance as part of the celebration. 162 traces2023
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Department of Fine and Applied Arts Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria.
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