Write notes on Aina Onabolu with particular reference to his:
- training;
- area of specialization and style;
- general contributions to the development of art.
The question was popular among the candidates and most of them responded remarkably while a few goofed on his area of specification. Generally, the question was well attempted but the candidates would have earned more marks if they had given the following responses:
(a) - he started practicing art on his own in 1900 while still in government
employment.
- he travelled to England in 1920 to study art at St. John’s Wood Art School, London.
- he also studied art at Julian Academy in Paris.
- he received a Diploma in art education and painting.
(b) - he was a painter and an art educator.
- his paintings were academic and naturalistic.
- he worked more on painting of portraits.
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(c) - against popular misconception, Onabolu was able to prove that
Africans are also creative and capable of producing academic paintings which conform with the laws of proportion.
- he was the first indigenous art educator in Nigeria.
- he laid the foundation upon which other artists built and thus, he is popularly regarded as the father of modern Nigerian art.
- he encouraged government to employ expatriate art teachers, e.g. Kenneth Murray and Dennis Duerden to teach in Nigerian schools.
- his activities made art to be recognized in the Nigerian School system.
- he fought for the inclusion of art in the school curriculum