THEMATIC EXAMINATION OF PAINTING AND GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATIONS ON SELECTED SCHOOLS MURAL IN ILORIN, NIGERIA

Abstract

The elements, sun and rain, has constituted threats to murals due to its transient and ephemeral nature. The obvious damages observed include cracks, disintegration of paint layers, swelling of the paint film, detachment of portions of painted layers and disintegration of the underlying ground. The murals are deteriorating and reducing fast in quality and quantity. It perhaps led to reduction in the number of mural paintings in Ilorin public places. This constitute rationale why the murals should be studied before they are destroyed. It also necessitates this urgent research inquiry. The research identifies and examine painting and graphic illustrations on selected schools mural in Ilorin. In scope, it discusses themes of the murals in the study area, Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria. Method adopted for the study is field research complimented with library studies. Nineteen (19) works were examined. Mural painting and graphic illustrations in Ilorin schools depict communicable themes. They are instanced in figural and non-figural compositions, alphabets, numbers, calligraphy, geometry, cartoon and portraiture. Significantly, the mural serves aesthetic and educative purposes. It also fill the gap of scholarship neglect on the subject and in the study area, Ilorin.

Keywords: Mural, Painting, Arabic alphabets, Braille numerals, Graphic, Geometric shapes.