Emembolu (middle) flanked by co-owners of Kachi James Gallery, Kachi Aghasili(right) and Engr. Moses Onyeagba during the Solo Arts exhibition in Enugu
An ongoing art exhibition of paintings by seasoned artist, Chukwuemeka Ikemefuna Emembolu is featuring the personal experience of the artist at Kachi James Gallery, Enugu.
The solo art exhibition, tagged ‘ije nwoke ‘(the story of an African Man’, which commenced last weekend, is expected to end in May, 2024.
In the exhibition, which saw Emembolu drawing inspiration from his personal life experience, the artist explores the chain of events that took him to many professions and eventually culminated in him returning back to arts as a fulfilled man.
Using a visual impression, with a style called impasto, the paintings in this series successfully communicate the life struggles of an African man based on his personal life experience through Legal, engineering, construction and other professions, before returning back to the profession that is giving him peace of mind.
Speaking with newsmen at the commencement of the exhibition, Emembolu said: “Ije nwoke is an experience that I have gone through for so many years before finding myself back in arts.
“And there are so many things to express. By going through the paintings that are on the wall, you would be able to know the dept of that ije nwoke.
“Ije nwoke depends on a personal experience. No two life experiences are the same. It’s like a destiny. The summary of it is that you have to bring out the experiences that you have gone through in life both positive and negative”, he said.
A man of different strokes, Emembolu who is popularly known as MB Shaft, said his strong passion for arts is more of a spiritual thing than ordinary.
“And that’s where I’ve found satisfaction, and truly I’m now more fulfilled”.
Married with three children, Chukwuemeka Ikemefuna Emembolu hails from Onitsha Isiokwe inland town in Anambra State. He is a graduate of IMT Enugu and majored in Painting HND Fine and Applied Art.
The curator and founder of Kachi James gallery, Kachi Aghasili, told newsmen that she was trying to get people to come into the investment space, just as she hoped that people will start to see that art is as important as anything else.
“We’re trying to get people to come into the investment space and not just real estate. The process of acquiring a masterpiece is also a form of investment.
“So, we’re here to educate people on the anticipation that we will continue to create awareness and then grow this arts space.
“We’re doing our best to support young artists by exhibiting their works in our space.
“Sometimes, some professional artists would tell us to find a demarcation between amateurs and professionals. Some professionals would not want to exhibit their works in our space because of their belief that we exhibit amateur works.
“But my response to them is always that we opened this space so that people can be heard, seen and be discovered.
“So, I just don’t want to exhibit professional works. I want to exhibit anyone. An amateur can come in here and find a space. That’s what we use to encourage the youths. If you have a knack for arts, then, you will have a space to display your work.
“We’re getting people to know that you can fall in love with Arts”.
