“When I started the series, it was soul searching and were basically religious concepts, but somehow along the way, I found out that what happens to me, happens to others and can easily be applied to the society in which I live,

It was on August 15th, 2014, in the afternoon, I decided to call Wande Ģeorge for an interview after stumbling on it through a visual artist friend of mine. Good enough, Wande picked up the call immediately but told me he was actually driving and would like it, if I could call back in some few hours time that he was on his way to Terra Kulture to put in place finishing touches at the venue. I quickly obliged.

The last decade was a beautiful one for the Contemporary Arts in Nigeria. Vista were opened. Exhibitions spaces were filled and artists exhibited moving with time. Technology dominated the Arthouse, in fact, new lexicon such as ‘Curator’ even became an issue. What is the difference between a curator and gallery manager. Trends upon trends in the Arthouse. Photography and photographers took us to the next flight. Nigerian photographers dominated the globe from conceptualize to advertising and journalism. A lot was done from photo festivals to setting up foundations and getting grants to work globally. Nigerian photographers were commissioned to be part of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. The decade was full of incredible experience.

Wande George after picking up the call over an hour again, agreed to have an interview with me at Terra -Kulture. This was just disruptive!

August 16th, 2014, I was already walking into the gallery upstairs at Terra Kulture, admiring the Lagos busy-bees, having a spill over of work downstairs at the same time, having groovy moments that Terra Kulture is known for. And from the gallery, I saw the artist of the day, pulling up his car at the car park. Wande George was full of enthusiasm. typical of an Adsman with burning passion to kill a pitch for the client. He was simply ready for the exhibition.

His experience as an advertising bird was seen from the catalogue with some of his clients putting some forms of advertisements on the catalogue. Well designed. Catalogue designs was greatly improved upon by exhibiting artists in Nigeria in the last decade.

Wande George worked at Lintas Advertising for years in Lagos. Definitely, an erratic career he had. He left as an Art Director of repute with distinct efforts on briefs assigned to him. Naked Truth was actually a signature of Wande. An exhibition of Paintings and Watercolors. We had a good conversation on career, education, mentorship, advertising and in particularly the exhibition.

In his artist statement, Naked Truth was a concept he started exploring since 2004. “When I started the series, it was soul searching and were basically religious concepts, but somehow along the way, I found out that what happens to me, happens to others and can easily be applied to the society in which I live, after all, I am a product of the society and so interestingly, the more I explore the more I discover.”

Ben Osaghae in his Foreword on the catalogue captioned the artist exploration as ‘Self -Sufficiency Versus Efficacy in Wande George’s Art ‘. Ben wrote on one of Wande’s works ‘Reflection’ that the brooding, long necked man in the painting is enmeshed helplessly in his own thoughts and in a private world into which the artist, wants viewers to peep and in the process, empathize with the leaf green, emaciated figure.

Long time friend and colleague of Wande George, Duke Asidere, wrote ‘Feelings and Seeing Eyes’- “For him, the exhibition seeks and addresses issues in our polity. It also shows, informs and ask questions of us. The paintings in this exhibitions were executed in Oils can be placed in three categories in terms of style’

Wande George’s brilliance as an Adsman was exhibited as well in choice of titles and forms. African Queen was a mother figure looking resplendent and captivating, done in oil. Boarder Post was intriguing in title but the artist was annoyed working on it. His thought process was enmeshed in personal space not being respected. Desperate Men definitely put on another reality in front of us. Each man owns the jungle as they say. While Deceit (The Seat ) another oil work reflected on a chair and repersents a lot of things, persoanal opinions. The position of a man presently is temporary according to Wande. Kindly check his Window of Opportunity, Insecurity, Rast and West, Dialogue, In God’s Name, Generation X, City Girls, Waiting, Drummer Ecstacy Good News and other creations from Wande George have proved to the world, especially, in Nigeria. that Wande’s works are TIMELESS! Very disruptive again again!

The return of Wande on exhibtion circuit is reelected in The Return work, coming with joy and courage to think outside the box. Wande ventured into advertising world for years, serving clients briefs as a seasoned Illustrator and Art Director. He never left painting. His numerous collaborations spoke well of him, as the turn out of guests was unusual. Guests everywhere you go in the gallery. Friends from ads world and media were there to support Wande George. And everything was done in naked truth.

Words Ireho Aito /images /Wande George

Naked Truth exhibtion was held at Terra -Kulture in 2014.