Australian, Nigerian arts showcased in Abuja

The exhibition featured both countries indigenous arts work and crafts. Speaking during the art exhibition held at Transcorp Hilton Abuja, the Australian High Commissioner to Nigeria Lan McConville said that the main reason for bringing the exhibition to Africa is to showcase a key element of Australian culture to a wide audience. He said that […]

The exhibition featured both countries indigenous arts work and crafts.

Speaking during the art exhibition held at Transcorp Hilton Abuja, the Australian High Commissioner to Nigeria Lan McConville said that the main reason for bringing the exhibition to Africa is to showcase a key element of Australian culture to a wide audience.

He said that there are some 455,031 Australian who identify themselves as Aboriginal and currently around 145 languages spoken by its indigenous people adding that the indigenous people have contributed significantly across many fields, including arts, media, academic, sports and business.

“Australia and the various constituent countries of Africa have been more interlinked and connected –through growing trade, through multilateral cooperation and through people-to-people links particularly migrants and students- and so ensuring we have respect and understanding of one another`s culture and identity is fundamental to maintaining that new dynamic relationship. We simply cannot afford to have outdated and misinformed views about each other perpetuating old stereotypes,” he said.

The High Commissioner added that Australia honours and celebrates the contributions by its Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities which was not the case before, adding that the art exhibition portrays social challenges being faced by indigenous Australians today.

“These are works from young urban artists not afraid to highlight themes of loss, dislocation, being between cultures, land rights and dispossession. At the same time many of the works are infused with humour, energy and optimism,” he said.

Earlier the Director General of the National Gallery of Art, Abdullahi Muku said Nigeria can generate billions of naira from art if taken seriously, adding  that government on its own part will continue to create platform such as exhibitions to showcase such talents.

He added that he was impressed with the Australian – Nigeria art exhibition, which according to him also shows the international community that Nigeria is also prolific in art.