FOLARIN, Gbo

Graphic Artist, Muralist, Painter, Sculptor Address: Department of Fine Arts, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile- Ife, Oyo State. Birth: March 20, 1936 in Ibadan, Oyo State. Training: Attended Yaba College of Technology, 1955-1958; Regent Street Polytechnic, London, 1961-1962; BA, Central School of Art & Design, London, 1967; MFA, Howard University, Washington, DC, 1980, specializing in sculpture; MA, School of Architecture, Howard University, 1984. Profile: Full name, Agboola Folarin; graphic artist, Federal Ministry of Information, Lagos, 1959-1960; graphic and scenic artist, Western Nigerian Television, 1960-1961; set designer, Nottingham Playhouse, England, 1966-1967; junior research fellow/research fellow/senior art fellow, Institute of African Studies, and Department of Fine Arts, University of Ife, Ile-Ife, from 1968; designed sets, props and costumes for drama productions and films, 1968-1977; professor, sculpture and architectural design, University of Ife, Ile-Ife, from 1979; constructs works in metal relief. Member: Society of Nigerian Artists. Solo Exhibitions Theatre Designs, Africa Centre, London, 1967. Theatre Designs, Central School of Art, London, July 1967. Theatre Designs, University of Ife, Ile-Ife, October 1968. Theatre Designs, University of Ibadan, December 1968. "Paintings, Sculpture and Prints," Ori-Olokun Cultural Centre, Ile-Ife, October 1969. "Multi-Dimensional Art: Paintings, Sculpture, Theatre Designs," University Library, University of Ife, Ile-Ife, June 1971; USIS, Ibadan, July 1971. Theatre Design Exhibition, Haus Dakunst, Munich, Germany, 1972. Theatre Workshop and Exhibition, Trenchard Hall, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, March 1972. "Exhibition of Graphic Paintings," Zurich, Switzerland, August 1973. "Paintings, Sculptures, Theatre Designs," Goethe Institute, Lagos, April 24-May 3, 1974. "Paintings, Sculpture and Theatre Designs," British Council, Ibadan, July 1975. Group Exhibitions "Contemporary African Art," Institute of Contemporary Arts, London, March 17- April 18, 1967 "Exhibition of Contemporary African Arts," Africa Centre, London, August 5-31, 1968. "Theatre Sets and Costume Designs," University of Ife, Ile-Ife, 1968-1969 session. "Contemporary Printmaking," University of Ife, Ile-Ife, August 1973. "Exhibition of Contemporary African Sculpture on the Occasion of the Tenth Anniversary of the University of Ife," University of Ife, Ile-Ife, September- October 1973. "Contemporary Nigerian Fabrics and Prints," Ile-Ife Museum, Ile-Ife Black Humanitarian Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, Janaury 1974. "An Experiment in Textures and Colours," University of Ife, Ile-Ife, June 5-20, 1974. "Contemporary Nigerian Sculpture," University of Ife, Ile-Ife, September 1974. "Modem Graphics by Ten Nigerian Artists," Gallery rg, Curacao, Lesser Antilles, February 18-March 15, 1975. "Graphics and Textiles from Africa," Cleveland State University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA, May 1975. "Textile Designs and Fashion Show," University of Ife, Ile-Ife, June 1975. "Print Workshop Collection," African Heritage Center, North Carolina A &T State University, Greensboro, North Carolina, USA, February 1976. "Nigerian Art in the 70's," Department of Fine Arts, University of Ife, Ile-Ife, March 16-April 20, 1976. Goethe Institute, Lagos, December 8-22, 1976. FESTAC '77, Lagos, 1977. "National Art Exhibition," National Theatre, Lagos, September 30-October 7, 1978. "Contemporary Nigerian Art," Mayor's Office, Washington, DC, 1980. MFAThesis Exhibition, Howard University, Washington, DC, June 29-July 15, 1980. "SilverJubilee National Art Exhibition," National Theatre, Lagos, September 26- October 1, 1985. Oyo Trade Fair Textile Designs, Ibadan, January 24-February 2, 1987. "Treasures of Asele Insfitute," Italian Cultural Institute, Lagos, December 10-23, 1988. "Influences: ContemporaryAfrican and African-American Art," Hodson Gallery, Hood College, Frederick, Maryland, USA, February 1-March 1, 1989. "1989Exhibition of Contemporary Ife Art," Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, February 20-25, 1989. "Creative Dialogue:SNA at 25," National Theatre, Lagos, November 27-December 10, 1989. "1990 Exhibition of Contemporary Yoruba Art," School of Architecture, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, April 24-29, 1990. Commissions Aluminum relief panel, Zoological Garden, University of Ife, Ile-Ife, 1970. Sculpture, Students' Union Building, University of Ife, Ile-Ife, 1972-1973. Design for main door, Institute of African Studies, University of Ife, Ile-Ife, 1973. Cover design for The Creoles ofSierra Leone: Their Responses to Colonialism by Leo Spitzer, University of Ife Press, Ile-Ife, 1974. Mural, National Theatre, Lagos, 1974-1975. Sculpture, terracotta portrait, Farra Diba, Empress of Persia, 1975. Sculpture, bronze fiberglass in black resin, "Pantheon of the Gods," University Hall, University of Ife, Ile-Ife, 1976. Sculpture, fiberglass bust, Chief I.O. Delano, University of Ife, Ile-Ife, 1976. Murals, Conference Centre and Student Union, University of Ife, Ile-Ife, 1975-1977. Mural, glass mosaic, "Spirit of Man in Right," Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, 1978. Sculpture, bronze bust, Professor Ojetunji Aboyade, former Vice-Chancellor, University of Ife, Ile-Ife, 1978. Sculpture, bronze bust, Professor Abimbola, Vice-Chancellor, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, 1987. Life-size bronze statue, late Professor Hezekia A. Oluwasanmi, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, 1988. Writings by the Artist African Art. BA thesis, Central School of Arts & Design, London, 1967. [unpublished]. An Impact of Yoruba Icons and Mythology. MFA thesis, Howard University, 1980. [unpublished]. "Relating Sculpture to a Modem Nigerian Environment: An Artist's Experience," Black Orpheus (Lagos) 4 (1): 28-31, 1981. Also published in Stone 10 (Washington, DC, Howard University) October 1982. Yoruba Impluvia. MA (architecture) thesis, Howard University, Washington, DC, 1984. [unpublished]. "Modem Scenography in Western Nigeria," Nigeria Magazine (Lagos) 53 (2): 14-24, April-June 1985. illus. [Agbo Folarin in Interview with Dapo Adelugba]. Literature, the Arts, Culture and Education (Ibadan) 2 (2): 1-34, July 1985. "An Appreciation from a Metal Sculptor," pp. 31-32. In: Before Our Very Eyes: Tribute to Wole Soyinka I edited by Dapo Adelugba, Ibadan, Spectrum Books, 1986. "Notes on Creative Experimentation: Nigerian Contemporary Arts Example," Nigeria Magazine (Lagos) 55 (3): 66-68, July-September 1987. bibliog. "The Role of Public Sculpture in Nigeria," The Artist (London) September 1987, pages 40-48. "Scenographic Art in Nigerian Dance and Some Suggestions Concerning its Revitalization," Society of Theatre Arts 2 (1): 25-29, 1988. "Imaginative Image in Modem Nigerian ContemporaryArt," Kurio Africana; Journal of Art and Criticism (Ile-Ife) 1 (1): 38-56, 1989. bibliog. "Dualism and Expressive Dynamism in the Sculpture of Erhabor Emokpae," Kurio Africana; Journal of Art andCriticism (Ile-Ife) 1 (2): 61-67, 1989. Awards & Honors Design award, Arts Council of Great Britain (theatre design), London, 1966; design award, Arts Council of Great Britain, 1967-1968; award, National Art Competition, Murtala Mohammed International Airport mural, Lagos, 1978. Public Collections Asele Institute, Nimo. Iwalewa-Haus, Bayreuth, Germany. Lithographs: "Eshu," "Osumare," and "Sango." Lagos University Library, University of Lagos, Lagos. Mixed media: "Old Oyo"; oil painting on board: "Water Spirits"; wood sculptures: "Betrayal" and "Friendship"; steel sculpture: "Brotherhood." Works formerly in the collection of the Federal Society of Arts & Humanities, Lagos. Bibliography Mensah-Brown, Kodwo. "The London Africa Centre," African Arts (Los Angeles) 3 (3): 56-60, spring 1970. Folarin, Agbo. "Relating Sculpture to a Modem Nigerian Environment: An Artist's Experience," Stone 10 (Washington, DC, Howard University) October 1982. [Reprint from Black Orpheus Magazine (Ikeja, Nigeria) 1981]. Ofori-Ansah, Kwaku. "The Growth of African Contemporary Art: The Howard Connection," New Directions (Washington, DC) 10 (3/4): 36-39, July-October 1983. illus. [Agbo Folarin in interview with Dapo Adelugba]. Literature, the Arts, Culture and Education (Ibadan) 2 (2): 1-34, July 1985. Influences: Contemporary African and African-American Art; [exhibition held at the Hodson Gallery, Tatem Arts Center, Hood College, Frederick, Maryland, USA, February 1-March 1, 1989] / introduction by Winnie Owens-Hart. Frederick, MD: Hood College, 1989. [unpaged], illus. Momodu, Dele. "Money Doesn't Make a Man, Says Agbo Folarin, Veteran Professor of Fine Arts," National Concord (Lagos) March 31, 1989, page 5. Oyelola, Pat. "The Image of Women in the Yoruba Art of the 20th Century," pp. 131-150. In: Oritameta: Proceedings, 1990 I edited by Moyo Okediji, [Ile-Ife], Department of Fine Arts, Obafemi Awolowo University, 1991. notes, bibl. refs.