Rahimat Onize Shaibu: Telling Stories Through Arts

There are few artists who have shown they’re exceptional and can compete favourable when it comes to telling stories through their craft with symbolism and imagination.

Though as an art writer and critic, I seldom see arts that pricks my emotions often until the artists tell me the message they intend to pass across through it.

But seeing these portraits, I can say I have a filled day studying them which I believe the artist has done well.

Rahimat Shaibu who has decided to tell her stories through art photography using portraiture and symbolism is a big addition to the art world.

Going through many of her creations, I can tell the emotions and symbolism she uses to convey message(s) in all her portraits.

Though many wouldn’t understand the messages involved in creative arts, but Rahimat blends of flowers embodied her beautiful countenance as an African which many might consider inferior to other race.

It showcases her strength and willingness of persistence and growth in her chosen career. A field only the strong and very talented delve into and succeed.

Though she might have had her own fair share of struggles , the emotions shown in the piece epitomises sustainability and growth…like a newborn… despite seemingly unsurmountable odds, pulled through.

Her various portraits signifies different messages from hope , to right and wrong and doom. But at the end of the day, love and strength conquers all.

The new generation of artists are always looking for the easy ways to tell their stories, but looking at the her creativity , Rahimat has continued to add something significant that upcoming artists can relate with, and it tells us (Art Critics) and lovers that there’s hope for the further even with the advent of new technologies use in creating arts and crafts.

One of her portrait that caught my attention and continue to tickle my fancy is the lady with cloud hanging on her head with sprinkles of rain dripping.

That fine art conceptual photography is a powerful art that reveals strength and persistence. The symbolism of this art brings hope , progress and a properous future.

For me, the portraits can also be linked with the current situation of Nigeria, where the people hope to have a better future but are stagnant because of the continued corruption happening daily. The cloud suggest that a time is coming when progress and divine blessings will fall on the citizens (the rain drops) and everyone will be happy ever after. That’s my interpretation of that beautiful portrait.

The dark silhouette of the subject shows how powerful and gracious the artist imagined her strength.

This alone can serve as a testament to upcoming artists to learn from because her imagination tackles various themes in different facet of life.

The art industry would be dazed with the bundle of talent and creativity Rahimat Onize Shaibu is bringing to the craft.

It is hope that such talents are not left to be waste away or allowed to fizzle out. I call on art lovers across the globe to support her artistic prowess, encourage her spirituality and creative mind to continue to churn out exceptional portraits of different people and tell messages that would be of help to the global art community and the world at large.