Benjamin Njoku
15 November 2008
Except for the symbolic crawling flowers that encamped the gigantic walls, serving as the fence, nothing spectacular attracts any August visitor to the compound. But not until you are privileged to step into the castle, a bigger surprise looms, and you're confronted with what can be described as 'a paradise lost; a home for a wandering soul, and a tourist destination."
The entire compound is littered with over 32 bronze works, alongside several metal stones, wood sculptures and other paraphernalia of the arts. In this "garden of wonders", a visitor encounters flocks of geese, peacocks, cranes, water birds and tortoises.
Yemisi Shyllon's adorable home situated in the posh Maryland neighbourhood, Lagos reveals a sprawling artistic edifice that also, manifests itself in pure hospitality. The exotic flowers adoring his compound harmonizes perfectly with the different sculptural art treasure strategically positioned to create a sense of peace and naturalness.
The sheer neatness of the greenish lush will shame the Spartans of old. It is just about the ultimate and a measure of his totally authoritative sense of beauty, closeness to nature, but immensely sophisticated.
To say that art lives virtually in every corner of the house is not to say the least understatement. From the main gate down to the living room, it is a repository of art pieces.
The floor is so clustered with one ancient sculptural piece or another, while the toilets, bathrooms and stores provide space for such other works that could not be contained in the living room. It's indeed a rare feast of colours, wood and a display of sculptural pieces of high values.
Hardly would one walk freely through the living room without stumbling on a piece of art work. Even the walls are not spared either as they are equally covered with paintings.
"As you can see, I have about eight stores full of different species of art works. I have been acquiring art works ever before I met my wife. Very early in my life, even as a student in the University of Ibadan. I acquired works of masters, and I am still collecting art works," Shyllon replied as he took Saturday Art Salon round what anyone would describe as "a paradise lost."
" I started collecting art during my undergraduate days, some 33 years ago". He started narrating. "At the University of Ibadan when we go on holidays, I usually read at the Yabatech. And you know, in those days, Yabatech had their library very close to the student demonstration area, and I used to marvel at the sculptural works that adorned the place. And that is how I began to collect sculptural works.
"I used to travel to Igun in Benin to buy works of art. Also, I used to collect works from people living within my locality. Many of my colleagues whose parents had no need of the ancient works in their custody, usually invite me to come and buy such works.
We've been buying works directly from artists. We attend exhibitions, and other art functions. In terms of collecting antiquities, yes, we have had opportunities to collect works from people who used to go around with expatriates during the second world war to collect works and who are now putting them for sale.
Again, owing to the advent of religion, some born-again Christians, whose great-grandparents were chief priests or used to keep such antiquities that they now behold as being fetish and can no longer tolerate them invite us to come and buy them. There are also, merchants that come to look at such pieces that are sold to our foundation. That's how we acquire our works." he narrated.
Shyllon, admittedly is one of Nigeria's largest private collectors of art. After more than three decades of collecting art, and nurturing artistic talents, Shyllon can conveniently lay claim to his pride of place in the nation's art environment.
His undying passion for the art, which he started in his undergraduate days at the University of Ibadan, and the Yaba College of Technology, where he used to visit during holidays to read is quite infectious as it is desirable.
He narrated how his addiction to books allowed him to watch the students sculpt, paint and so on.In spite of his training as an engineer, a lawyer and an economics, Shyllon finds time to make his impact felt in the art world. He said, he was not totally bereft of artistic talent as he can draw perfectly well. "There are many passions in my eyes, but I think the glorious is art because art appreciates with time, and for a private individual like me, the only way I can be remembered many years later is through art," he enthused.
Indeed, Shyllon's impact on the nation's art scene remains unparalleled today. There is hardly any art exhibition, conferences, seminars or workshop holding in Lagos and its environs without his graceful presence. Setting up a foundation in 2007, to cater for the varied works that he had acquired over the years is a testimony of his undying passion for the art.
"I'm the largest art collector in Nigeria. My Foundation has the largest private art collection in Nigeria. Omooba Yemisi Adedoyin Shyllon Art Foundation has the largest art collection in Nigeria. Not only is it the largest, but the most balanced in the sense that, we have works from antiquities to traditional African art, to contemporary sculptures, and contemporary paintings.'
The art patron explained, adding that "as a non-profit organization, the foundation is in the forefront of collecting, preserving and ensuring a proper positioning of the Nigerian art." He continued, 'our antiquities dated back to the 12st century, and we also have our contemporary paintings which covered the period of Aina Onabolu through Lashikan, Okegbulu, Ugoji, and Egonu, all of which are the great artists of our time.
Aina Onabolu was the first contemporary artist in Nigeria. He was born in 1888 and he died in 1963. He was also followed by Akinola Lashikan, a great artist too. We have works of all these artists in our collection. I tell you that our foundation has works of masters that some emerging artists must have read about, but have not been privileged to behold their works.'
Only recently, the foundation held a public exhibition of Shyllon's acquired art works. And it was indeed, a sight to behold; parade of beauty, elegance and appreciation of the richness of African traditional art form. With over 6000 pieces of antiquities, traditional art and neo-colonial African art, contemporary paintings and sculptures, the foundation also boast of rearing pets.
In the foundation, one beholds an inestimable priceless art works. Some of the collections, timeless and hardly come by again, include Theresa Akinwale's portraiture impression of Aina Onaibolu, Ogundele's kaakaki Oba; Abayomi Barber's Ali Magoro; Susan Wenger's Spirit World, which he claimed he bought during an auction at the artist's 80th birthday, as well as Onobolu's "Northern Scenery", created in 1949.
Belonging to more than four different professions, Shyllon described himself as a very restless man, who has eye for beauty. "I practice many professions in my young life. I am very versatile and active. I also, very restless man. And I have an eye for beauty . I am an artist in the sense that I can draw very well. While I was in secondary school, I used to draw very well. But I later veered to read engineering. I buried that latent in me."
"But then, the latent came out when I was in the university as I appreciated the works of art, each time I visited the Yaba College of Technology's library to study. Whenever I am bored, I used to sketch. I have some sketched works that I have done. For me, an artist is not really the man that draws, but also the one that does interior decors. Drawing and producing is different from having that innate ability. I will tell you that I have the innate ability in art."
'The Foundation keeps a set of animals such as peacocks, tortoise, chickens, reptiles, fishes, pigeons, water birds and many others. It's part of living well and enjoying life, ensuring that you contribute something to society. It's not all about chasing materialism all the time. I spent all my time reading, and that's why I have acquired all the qualifications that I have today. I am a very busy, and active Nigerian. I like living with nature and animals. But I don't like dogs and cats. I love peaceful animals; birds."
"People visit my Foundation on invitation. They don't come here on their own because this Foundation houses private collection of art works. We have hosted the ambassadors, consulate generals, diplomats, international curators of museums of African art in New York.
We have also had visitors from the British Museum. We were honoured with the visit of the Italian Ambassador to Nigeria: His Excellency Kiassimo Baisirochi to the art collections of our foundation on Tuesday, September 16, 2008.
We were also honoured with a tour of OYASAF collections by Dr. Barbara Plankensteiner, the Head of Sub-Saharan African Collections of the Museum Fur Volker Kunde of Austria on Thursday, October 2, 2008." Shyllon hinted that his foundation is erecting a place, where lectures, seminars and workshop and other art related functions can be organized.
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