Adumaadan; exploring an artist’s fascination for black, beauty

Since August 1, 2019, a good number of art lovers, collectors and some discerning members of the public have been thronging Didi Museum on #175 Akin Adesola Street in Victoria Island, to see breathing works on display.

The skillfully crafted works are displayed in an exhibition titled ‘Adumaadan’, a solo outing of over 14 works by Tokunbo Browne, one of the pioneer students of the Faculty of Fine Arts, University of Benin.

From one end of the exhibition hall to the other, the works delight the eyes, especially with the special effect created with the use of the black pigment on white canvas. As well, trees and female figures are common features of the works, amid the creative ingenuity Browne deployed in creating human face, head and hair from the tree background. One of the intriguing works entitled ‘Entangled 1’, breathtakingly revealed

human hair, face and shoulder representing a full tree including tree branches depicted with human hair. There are several others of same semblance and fusion of tree and human face and body. The outcome is wonderful artistic creation.

Speaking on the title of the exhibition and what informed it at the opening of the exhibition, Browne said that the word Adumaadan literarily means ‘Black and Beautiful’ and excites him a lot. He noted further that the title is a unique word used by Yoruba men in West Africa, North America, Cuba, Brazil and United Kingdom to describe an exceptionally beautiful woman with spotless dark skin

“In my early days, the black pigment held me captive by its incredible power of precision and sophistication”, the artist who produced his first monochrome piece in 1969 called ‘The Palmwine Drinkard’ said.

The artist, who have had successful career in graphics, confessed his fascination with the beauty of black women and the human connection with trees. He noted that Adumaadan strikes the visual sense because of the uniqueness of the canvas.

Tracing his fascination with trees, the artist said, “I did my National Youth Service in Jimeta Yola in 1980 before the trouble started over there. At the orientation camp then, there were many trees in human form, which looked like women that are sitting down with their legs spread out. There were lots of them and I was fascinated by that as an artists. I also called other corps members to see the trees and a lot of them were shocked at seeing them”.

Following that, Browne has taken time to note everywhere he goes of such trees and how trees mirror the human form. “Then I began to reflect that in some illustrations and that is how this came about”, he said.

Browne, who describes his art as minimalist, said he fascination with the black pigment and for art started at an early age.

“As a child, when I was 13 years, I was fascinated with the black pigment. So, every time I put black on canvas I get very excited”.

Also speaking at the opening of the exhibition, Newton Jibunor, founder of Didi Museum, who doubles as an art collector, commended the quality of works on display, applauding Browne for the sheer ingenuity he brings to bear in his works.

Adumaadan, which started on August 1, lasts until August 7, 2019 at Didi Museum.