Transacting the Modern in the Works of Segun Aiyesan, a Self-Taught Nigerian Artist

Abstract

Despite the embodied presence of self-taught art in Nigeria’s contemporary art space, the contributions made by self-taught artists in advancing the modernist landscape of contemporary art in Nigeria have remained largely understudied. Employing historiography and stylistic analyses, this article examines the modernist affirmations in the art of Segun Aiyesan, a self-taught Nigerian artist. It traces his artistic development as well as the various factors that influenced and shaped the modernist sensibilities evident in his art. Situating the discourse within the idiosyncrasies of Nigerian and Western art traditions, the study highlights how Aiyesan’s eclectic and experimental approach to art, in conjunction with his effectual application of artistic talent and imagination, enabled him to transact his own brand of modernism, and how its stylistic and aesthetic registers offer a deeper understanding of the multifarious landscape of modern Nigerian art. Key attributes that frame Aiyesan’s art practice include the use of unconventional painting formats, multiple engagements of a particular subject matter using diverse compositional frameworks, and the continuous re-appraisal and re-invention of formal language. Thus, his art is very dynamic, expressive and constantly evolving.