Sculptor and environmental artist, Dotun Popoola recently unveiled a 14 feet long sculptural piece of a lion commissioned by Oba Saheed Ademola Elegushi, the Kusenla III of Ikate Kingdom in his palace in Lekki in Lagos.
Popoola who gave historical insights about the artwork said a chance meeting with the monarch provided the opportunity of the work.
He said that the lion sculpture size: 14-ft long, 8.5-ft high, and 4-ft broad and weighing 300kg, was created to encapsulate history, culture, royalty, elegance, luxury, and sustainability. He pointed out that it was made with scrap metals, mild steel, aluminium, bronze, automobile parts, auto-based pigment, and took more than 2 years to finish the work.
Whilst receiving the piece, the elated Oba expressed his satisfaction with the artwork saying, “I commissioned Dotun Poopola to produce a sculptural piece of a lion and you brought a monumental sculpture of a lion with history. Popoola’s artistic prowess is undeniable, and I must express my admiration for the exquisite master piece that has emerged from his gifted hands.”
The 21st Oba of Ikate-Elegushi Kingdom revealed that the remarkable sculpture would be transformed into a luxury coffee table book which will reflect the analysis of forms and content in the sculpture and also give a creative visual insight into the history of the Ikate-Elegushi Kingdom adding that he would ensure that the book would be placed in palaces and luxury places across the globe.
