An artist, famous for the
stained glass technique had faced health challenges which had been a collective
concern of the Nigerian art community.
Nigerian renowned artist,
David Dale, has died in Lagos. He died on Tuesday at the Military Hospital,
Yaba at about 4am, after a long and traumatic battle with stroke.
He has been in and out of
coma, and recently he broke a thigh bone that required a surgery.
Thereafter, he suffered
another stroke that impaired his speech and ability to recognise people.
Born in 1947 in Nigeria to
a Scottish father and a Nigerian mother, Dale moved to the United Kingdom to
live with an aunt at age two.
He returned to Nigeria to
finish his secondary education at St. Gregory’s College, Lagos.
He met Bruce Onobrakpeya,
the art teacher at the college who encouraged his interest in art.
Dale graduated from Ahmadu
Bello University in 1971, specialising in Graphics and Design and moved back to
Lagos to practice, working with Onobrakpeya for a few years before setting up
his own studio.
He would go on to practice
art, explore advertising and teach part-time at the University of Lagos in the
eighties.
His early artworks and some
of his best known artworks are done in the lino engraving and foil methods that
Onobrakpeya practised. Dale ventured into print-making and worked with a variety
of media including coloured beads, charcoal and stained glass.
Many of his early artworks
explored the energy and variety of urban life in Lagos. His lines were sparse,
eliminating superfluous adornment to create a visceral connection to his
viewers.
Four years ago, there was a
special fund raising lottery sales tagged, “Saving David Dale” organised by
Quintessence Gallery, Park View Estate, Ikoyi, Lagos.
Over three years ago, Dale
suffered stroke, but survived 12 days of coma. A number of other financial
support initiatives, aimed at assisting his further treatment abroad, have been
held, particularly by art patrons at auctions and exhibitions to enable him
seek further medical attention outside the Nigerian shores.
Nigeria’s leading auction
house, Arthouse Contemporary also dedicated its charity lots to raise funds for
Dale in Lagos.
Among the early supports
for Dale came from one of Africa’s leading collectors, Prince Yemisi Shyllon
who, according to sources, picked the initial medical bills of the prolific
artist. Later, another collector, Chief Rasheed Gbadamosi, now late, organised
Dale Soiree, a private viewing of the ailing artist’s select works.
Dale had worked
consistently in 23 different media during his four decades old career. Among
his regular medium are oil, beads, glass bead works, water colour, gouache,
stained glass media in three different styles including wrought iron, etchings,
mosaic, and lino prints.
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