Israel Padonu
Biography
Israel Dehumo Padonu (b. 1994) is a native of Badagry, Lagos State Nigeria; introduced to colour at the age of 4 by his father who was a traditional signwriter, he self-taught the art of drawing and painting by copying images from his local church magazines, a habit that will later become instrumental in his choice of career path. He later studied creative arts (A painting major) at the university and graduated with a B.A (Ed. 2017) honors from the Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, Nigeria.
He had a short stint teaching Fine Art in the year 2018, shortly after graduating from the university and would later adopt a full-time studio art practice in early 2020. The early stages of his full-time studio practice were a period spent experimenting with unconventional media and incorporating them into his art. However, his current and ongoing body of works is influenced by the need to merge his creative exploration with contemporary needs that ultimately contribute to the social and mental well-being of his race type, thereby creating art that serves a higher purpose.
Artist Statement
Israel D. PADONU is an abstract realist painter who creates works that explore the idea of “Self-emancipation by consciously embracing the shadow self”. His works adopt the idea of decolonization of body and mind, within the black racial context.
He’s inspired by the contemporary and historical oppression amidst mankind, his lived experiences (majorly influenced by the Christian religion, and his Badagry hometown with her involvement in the transatlantic slave trade), and contemporary events within his Nigerian reality and the world at large.
He believes in embracing the self shadows and taking personal responsibilities through active mental liberation which can also be effected through the exploration of creative ideas, towards our individual cum collective emancipation. This begins as a mindset, and art after all is therapeutic.
Hence, the art he creates is his quota, at engaging the discourse of self-emancipation from a personal point of view, through shadow journaling with simplified yet complex creative artworks, without necessarily amplifying the grotesque reality of his past and present sociopolitical climate.
Common themes in his works are Africanfuturism, Emancipation, Race, and Identity.
Exhibitions
Reflection (Group 2022);
Group exhibition at Bermelvonluxburg Gallery, Fasanenstrasse, Berlin, Germany.
The Boundary Beyond Figures (Group 2022); Group exhibition at Arushi Gallery, Los Angeles,, California, USA.
Visage (Group 2022); A group exhibition by Chilliart Project, Noho Studio,, London, England.
Mentopedia (Group 2021); An Art exhibition of urban design and brain health Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Yaba Lagos, Nigeria.
Badagry Art Fair (Group 2021) Group exhibition by selected local artists in the ancient city of Badagry
O2 Bar Marina, Badagry Lagos State, Nigeria.
The Artist Movement: Black Lives Matter Fundraiser (Group 2020) Virtual International Group Exhibition, Chicago Illinois, USA.
