Fluent Photography Ends

By BOLA OGUNTOLA

Two Sundays ago, at Quintessence Gallery Falomo-Ikoyi, Lagos, Olusegun Fayemi concluded his exhibition of photographic and fine art digital photo paintings titled Eloquent Narratives. Fayemi's three-week long exhibition has been a worthy home-coming show for the trained Medical Doctor. His photography work led him on exciting journeys across borders, deserts, street markets and coastal regions of Africa while this exhibition recounted the experiences garnered from each trip. According to him, photography works about different countries in Africa is done to clarify the misconceptions of the West about Africans.
Through his documentary photographs, Fayemi articulates the realities of contemporary Africans and they traverse a wide spectrum of the rhythm of the daily lives of African women in Idjenne (Mali) market, the teeming thousands of people at Oshodi market, the somber atmosphere of the subterranean churches in Lalibela (Ethiopia) to women dressed in brilliantly coloured 'Aso Ebi' dancing to popular praise songs in an Anglican church in Abeokuta. From children playing with home-made toys to crowded classrooms across the continent; from pounding yam in Accra to grinding grain in Qugadoudou.  Many of the images Fayemi portray are universal but others are distinctively African in content and flavour revealing timeless narratives of how Africans live and the nuances that shapes those lives.
This present work of fine art digital photo painting originates from continuous tone monochrome (black and white) negatives less so from colour digital files. They are transformed through a unique process to colourful and luminous representation of the drama of contemporary life and experience in Africa.
Also the digital process permits Fayemi the creative use of colours, special technique and a personal interpretation that introduce elements of mystery, visual poetry and dynamism to the pictures. These images go beyond the documentary; that is the transformation imbues them with energy, vigour and vibrancy elevating them to new dimensions and a magnificent level of beauty.
The photographer has done some solo exhibitions which includes Jaclyn Kling Galley, Montclair, New Jersey (2008); Muson Centre, Lagos; Harmattan Gallery, Lagos (2007); California State University, Fullerton; to mention a few.
Fayemi has also published three books on photography namely 'Balancing Acts: Photographs from West Africa (1992); Voices from Within: Photographs of African Children (1999); Windows to the Soul: Photographs Celebrating African Women (2003).  
Besides expressing his passion for photography, Fayemi works as Clinical Associate Professor of Pathology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York.