Bringing arts to the capital
Recently, there was a gathering of arts enthusiasts at the exclusive Casalinda Gallery Lounge in Maitama, Abuja to flag off a ten-day arts exhibition titled “Nigeria@50: She Moves On”. The exhibition was jointly organised by Casalinda Gallery Lounge and Iroko@NKA Kreations. Over a dozen artists displayed their works, ranging from exquisite sculptures to very expressive […]
Recently, there was a gathering of arts enthusiasts at the exclusive Casalinda Gallery Lounge in Maitama, Abuja to flag off a ten-day arts exhibition titled “Nigeria@50: She Moves On”.
The exhibition was jointly organised by Casalinda Gallery Lounge and Iroko@NKA Kreations. Over a dozen artists displayed their works, ranging from exquisite sculptures to very expressive paintings, video arts and photography. The guests from different nationalities were impressed as were the artists whose works were on display.
Mr. Gandi Obiefule of Casalinda Gallery Lounge was delighted by the turnout and said there were about 30 different nationals at the opening. Several ambassadors from the diplomatic corps graced the events with their friends and family.
Mr. Obiefule said the organisers made concerted efforts to ensure that all geographic areas of Nigeria were represented at the exhibition.
The event, despite the heavy diplomatic presence, was very informal. This atmosphere was ticked off by the uninhibited manner in which the works were displayed in the flowered premises of Casalinda with the soft drumming of a cultural troupe in the background.
Strolling out towards the drumming, one encounters a trio of dancers decked in traditional attires entertaining the guests. One occasionally has to side step them so as to admire some of the displayed works, while waiters went round with trays of refreshments: it was a cocktail of arts, music, refreshment and some poetry.
One of the artists was Chuks Okwokwo. He seemed please to be at the event.
“From the theme of the exhibition, it’s about the new Nigeria after our 50 years of independence, it is about survival and we artists are proud to associate with this.”
Okwonkwo was glad to show guests round his works and explain his concepts. He had travelled across the country and his experiences of the different peoples in the country are evident in his paintings.
A multimedia artist, Uchay Joel Chima, believes such exhibitions afford artists the opportunity to showcase their talent at the home front.
“I think it is very significant and in [the exhibition’s] quest to promote Nigerian artists, I think it is very important because artists are often forgotten in the background,” he said.
The guests were obviously impressed and one of them, Mrs. Yvonne Chioke summed up the sentiment thus: “I am actually very impressed by the art work. I think beside that fact, the scenery, the way the art work was displayed is very impressive and I have seen a lot that has impressed me.”
As the exhibition lasts, several of the artists will be giving talks on various topics on the arts while children will be introduced to the art of appreciating art.
But organising the exhibition was not without challenges as Theresa Ijeoma-Nadorp of Iroko@NKA Kreations, one of the organisers of the event pointed out. She particularly decried the level of art awareness in Nigeria and hopes to demonstrate through such exhibitions that art can be part of everyday life in Nigeria. She also decried the lack of sponsorship from “the powers that be”.
But that hardly took anything away from the opening of the exhibition which was as colourful as some of the works displayed that fine Saturday afternoon.