Instead of going their separate ways, rather, Gab Awusa and Zinno Orara decided to stick together and remain forever young.
Writes Ireho Aito

Instead of going their separate ways, Gab Awusa and Zinno Orara decided to stick together and remain forever young. From being college mates, roommates, and confidants, the two buddies and talented painters have been working as full-time studio artists since they met forty years ago at the prestigious Federal Polytechnic Auchi. Their enduring connection and shared mission have made their names synonymous with artistic excellence, much like their names sound like renowned fashion houses in Europe.

During a visit to QGallery in Apapa, my small contingent, including the renowned metal sculptor, Adeola Balogun, decided to take a quick peek at another exhibition at the National Museum in Onikan. This museum has become iconic for hosting some of Nigeria’s most talked-about visual arts exhibitions. More so, the building stands opposite the illustrious music hollow known as MUSON, those who can score music knows about this musical society building and what it stands for. The museum has a young neighbour, another commercial edifice, The City Mall, that houses one of the grandest galleries in Lagos – Biodun Omolayo Gallery. But still where we are at Onikan, the grandest!

A peep became a camaraderie inside the museum with septugenarian curator Moses Ohiomokhare who has refused to step down and looking like a film producer at the center of the hall sandwiched by Zinno Orara who was standing like a cast member of the famous Hollywood box office film Fast & Furious Vim Diezel. He looks younger and creatively handsome than his age and years of experience churning out artworks for private collections, public commissions and exhibitions. His youthful looks belies his age. What a number he has garnered! Gab Awusa and Sons were at the exhibition this time. Gab dorning a beautiful dark suit, looking like Savile Row tailors model, bringing to life the iconic and hugely illustrious name, Professor Ben Enwonwu, the father of modern Nigerian art. Professor Ben Enwonwu was known for his fashion cruise and appearance as a teacher of the art. Gab was looking cool. In fact, Gab and Sons was a company! The suit means business!

No duo has come together for a record close to forty years, practising and selling their art from their studios. But Gab and Zinno have done that since graduation. They have both dared to conquer. They are men of colours.

The joint project, “A Refreshing Dialogue,” was the brainchild of charismatic writer and art collector Professor Ebun Clark, who was present at the exhibition. She praised the duo’s enduring friendship and artistic collaboration, emphasizing the importance of genuine relationships.

Professor Ebun Clark who was also present at the exhibition. She expresses her joyous mind and appreciation at the exhibition opening on the 30th of March by telling the enthusiasts and patrons present about what relationship means to life. “These are brothers in the same room at school, still moving together forty years on! What a life to behold! The Don marvelled. “I told them that instead of solo projects, why can’t we have a two – man exhibition of two wonderful personalities that have created beautiful atmosphere in our world. We need to learn from their stories built on genuine love that we lack today among us,” Professor Ebun Clark serenades the audience inside the National Museum.

“I told them that instead of solo projects, why can’t we have a two – man exhibition of two wonderful personalities that have created beautiful atmosphere in our world. We need to learn from their stories built on genuine love that we lack today among us,”

The hardworking duo, alongside curator Moses Ohiomokhare, presented 42 artworks—21 each—created between 2022 and 2024. Art critic Ekpo Udo Udoma, in his foreword for the exhibition catalogue titled “The Colourists Are At It Again,” highlighted their lavish use of colors and consistent style.

Zinno Orara has had 15 solo exhibitions in his profile and still on the go. He shares some moments on his person while on a project. “Music plays a big role for me once I am on a project. A Bob Marley sound or soft Jazz music gives me that breathe to act. I connect with the message through music.” As an environmentalist, some of his 21 engagements had New Nigeria. Zinno maintains that problems are there to be solved. “Wherever there are problems, there are opportunities to be discovered. The country is going through series of self discovery and the challenges are enormous but surmountable. Another work is Bread Winner that was inspired by roles differentiation in families. Today, we even have a whole of societal change in who puts the food on the table from a couple to bachelors and bachelorettes, not forgetting situations where becoming a bread winner depends on who is at a better advantage of income. Other works at A Refreshing Dialogue exhibition from Zinno’s end include Life’s Journey, Silent Noise, While He Waited for His Retirement Benefits, Forward Forever, Before Our Very Eyes, May Our Paths Cross Again, Shapes to Come, This Land is Flowing with Milk and Honey, Someday I Shall Be Vindicated, Educate the Girl Child and Set Her Free, Peaks and Valleys and December Sunset Series.

“Music plays a big role for me once I am on a project. A Bob Marley sound or soft Jazz music gives me that breathe to act. I connect with the message through music.”

Gabriel Awusa beaming in his corporate smiles, said it all about a man who has found fulfilment in his calling. “I have no regret whatsoever in my chosen path and the way I have navigated it,” he joyously puts it. “That’s my son!” Gab was trying to explain to a patron who wanted to know who the videographer panning the camera on her was. Gab’s happy moments on 30th of March knew no bound as he adjusted his suit, looking like a piece gotten from the tailors at Savile Row in the UK.
Just as he admitted with Professor Ebun Clark’s position about the timing of an exhibition show in Nigeria at the moment. Times are hard for everyone. The economy is collapsing and picking artworks is not on most people’s minds. Even the profound collectors are taking it slow and steady. Gab gave this remarks in his acceptance speech to the patrons and enthusiasts.

While Lagos played a big part in career trajectory of Gab Awusa, growing in the big city has been so inspiring and getting to deliver on his private commissions, art sales, auctions and mentoring younger ones. Gab’s life experiences feature prominently in his creations and his timings are perfect. He recalls some of his Lagos stories like the Eyo Masquerade festival, a grand procession and ceremony that was wayback colourful is gradually losing its grandeur now. “ That festival was Lagos and Lagos was Eyo. But today, nobody talks about it again. The society is no more interested. What we used to witness as fanfare has lost its glamour. Then, you can’t see them while on parade. Women are forbidden to see them.” Gab reveals he has painted his inspirations about Eyo so many times and this exhibition may be the last time he would be coming out with a painting of Eyo.

That festival was Lagos and Lagos was Eyo. But today, nobody talks about it again. The society is no more interested. What we used to witness as fanfare has lost its glamour.

Among other paintings from Gab Awusa at A Refreshing Dialogue exhibition are The Flight, Labourer in the Cornfield, Minority Report, Physical Validation, The Cornfield Harvesters, Traffic Warder, Body Language, Spirits of Lagos, Lagos Traffic, The Martydom of Abel, Planted by the River and Spirit Rebirth.

Gab and Zinno have this to tell the aspiring artists not to give up in their voyage, but uphold life’s lessons. They should be honest with their works and people they meet. They both admit that persistence, commitments and honesty will pave way for success stories.

Words/Ireho Aito/Don’t Keep Your Art in the Finger!