An Analytical Study of the Concept of Adaptation in the Paintings of Abiodun Akande

Abstract

Abiodun Akande is a 1989 graduate of the Department of Fine and Applied Arts, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria. Abiodun Akande is a painter and his paintings have close resemblance to Yoruba traditional sculptures. It is against this background that this paper investigates, analyses and documents the paintings of Abiodun Akande to put in proper perspective his contribution to the evolvement of contemporary Nigerian art. His examined paintings include Ikunle Abiamo, Babalawo, Epa Spectacle, I am Because We Are and Awon Agba. The study is, however, premised on the concept of adaptation. Adaptation is an ideological concept which has to do with the process of revisiting the work of a particular culture and copying its characteristic features into the rendition of one's art work. This study also adopts qualitative research design, using historical and descriptive approaches. The study discovered that, Abiodun Akande revisited and adapted Yoruba art proportion, style, and themes in the execution of his paintings. This makes his paintings to have cubical appearance and most at times, they are characterised with angularity of forms.