A STUDY OF SELECTED ARTISTS FROM FINE ARTS DEPARTMENT AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY ZARIA AND THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF CONTEMPORARY ART IN NIGERIA (1981-2002)

By

Author

Presented To

Department of Environmental Design

ABSTRACT
This thesis is based on twelve-selected artist from fine Arts Department, Ahmadu Bello University who graduated from 1981 - 2002. The selected artists were chosen out of twenty five artists who were sent questionnaires based on their performance in their post graduate activities. Such artists have acquired great technical experience in the art of which they currently practice. The themes, styles and messages of their works are some times socio-cultural, Scio-economical or sociopolitical. Despite the various efforts by such artists the art scene over the years, there is still inadequate literature to show these efforts. Therefore most of these artists remain unknown in their professional fields either as sculptors or painters. The only available literatures on these artists are from a few exhibition catalogues, art journals and thesis; which was used for the literature review. Chapter three of the thesis deals with the methods used to collect data, field work were under taking. After which a combination of descriptive and historical methods were used, to write the thesis. Questionnaires were sent to the selected artists of whom oral interviews were held and photographs taken as part of the method to document some visible forms or art works seen. Also several visits were made to the artist either in their studios, work shops, residence, homes or gallery to acquire more information. Chapter four of this study deals with the data analysis and discussions. Here each artist’s work was presented and explained. Three works of John. N. Nyamdi was presented and explained, which were; the local Hunter, the farmer and the reclychining lady. Two of Mohammed Sani Muazu works were presented and explained, they are In the grave, and chuwa-chuwa boy. Three of muyideen Adio Jaji’s works were presented and discribed; they are Kwame Nkurumah, Ahmadu Bello, sango. The works of malthew Ehizele were; the sledge harmer, Amariya da Ango, the Queen mother mask and the drummer. Gushem Philip’s paintings were the savannah landscapes and the messiah. Tunde Babalola’s sculptures were; the drum beat, African Rhythm, Ghana must go and the palm wine taper. The gate of hell, the gossip and Night and Day were works of Ayo Aina. Lamidi Lasisi’s works are supplication, mother and child the seat. Kenneth Okoli worked on Zaria metal landscapes were include kore landscape, Zaria landscape and Layin Zomo. Kevin Damden worked on series of sculptures called the “Bism” style of whom Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, the supervised terror are described in the theses. Baba Musa’s collage works include the portrait of Mallam Muazu Sani, Ahmed Makarfi. Then Idowu Biola works on metal sheets of which the African lady, the spider, the palm wine taper and the acrobats art examples. Some of the findings showed that the works of the artists over these years (1981-2002) in the manipulation of line, colour, form, space and content through the borrowing of traditional and unconventional material has perhaps brought old forms into existence. The basic recommendation here is that artists should practice art, produce art and continue to explore new possible directions in their presentation of contemporary Nigerian art.