Inua passes as Expo opens
A busy bubbly day for the proprietor of Time Art Gallery, Lagos, who had worked through Friday until night setting up things for the opening event on Saturday before asking to take his leave to return early Saturday morning. That was never to be as he died in an accident. Before dawn, the news of […]
A busy bubbly day for the proprietor of Time Art Gallery, Lagos, who had worked through Friday until night setting up things for the opening event on Saturday before asking to take his leave to return early Saturday morning. That was never to be as he died in an accident.
Before dawn, the news of his death had spread through the art community and beyond, creating doubt as to whether the ArtExpo would still hold.
The long faces of guests who refused to seat on the chairs Inua had helped arrange, greeted other guests as they arrived the venue.
After observing a minute silence in memory of the departed artist, Chief Edem Duke, Minister, Culture, Tourism and National Orientation who described his passing as the loss of a close and trusted friend flagged off the expo.
Edem pointed out that the visual art sector is strategic to the transformation agenda of the administration. “The Expo is a strategic catalyst for the economic growth of the nation as it creates awareness that the art sector is business-oriented, and if properly harnessed, could provide jobs for the youths.” Art Expo Lagos is organised by the National Gallery of Art in collaboration with the Art Galleries Association of Nigeria.
The minister emphasised that art and culture are no less important than any other sector in the quest for the diversification of the economic base from oil and gas. He explained that if properly harnessed art is capable of attracting enough revenue to buoy up Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
He said, “If the Louvre in Paris alone can attract as much as 100,000 tourists annually, the positive economic effect of this exposition in terms of guided tours, hotels, food, trade and local tourism industry would be nothing short of monumental. The National Gallery of Art has continued to distinguish itself in this area of public awareness and appreciation of the visual art.”
Duke said his interest in the Expo is its possibility to provide alternative source of appreciable revenue generation. He charged all to therefore, march together in this onerous responsibility of building a huge source of economic base for sustainable development, consequently a greater Nigeria.
He said: “Art is no longer for passing time. It is now a source of entrepreneurial endeavour and I would like to use this opportunity to call on Nigerian banks and other corporate bodies, gallery owners, art promoters, stakeholders to assist the visual art sector, which is the bedrock of industrial development in order to enhance the new entrepreneurial thinking in the visual art sector.”
Abdulahi Muku NGA Director-General, in his address said the essence of the expo is not only to showcase the rich cultural heritage of Nigerians, but to serve as a veritable art trading event for gallery owners, patrons, art dealers, and corporate art buyers. Muku regretted the non-inclusion of workshop and lecture sessions as well as the December date for the expo but assured that the traditional hosting month of August would be sustained.
It was another exciting treat for annual guest, Oyetunde Ladipo, since ArtExpo started in Lagos. “I am particularly pleased this year with the kind of works on display. Though I thought more people should have been here to view them, I think the postponements are to blame. It is a lot more organised and it is obvious that more work went into preparing this time on the part of the gallery owners as well as the NGA.”
Commending the event was Sheila Ibrahim who said, “I always enjoy the art scenes and can hardly complain about what I see because each piece is unique and beautiful in its own right. But I would have thought that by now, we would have gone beyond having only two galleries form Africa. It is an area which I think the organisers should look into more seriously.”
To this, the curator of the exhibition Mr. Simon Ikpakronyi announced that well ahead of time, galleries form several countries in Africa and beyond had been written to and invited to participate at the event. But so far the ones who respond are those whose works have been exhibited.
The general ambiance of the day was one of gratitude that the event which many had given up on finally held with a very detailed brochure discussing Nigerian modern art in ways that most people have never encountered before.
Commenting on this, Ayaba Emmanuel said, “Being a Ghanaian, I am very happy that I have one of these brochures to further educate me on Nigerian art and the elements which motivate Nigerian artists. I would say it is a job well done even though I see room for improvements in subsequent editions.”
The event organised by the NGA in collaboration with the Art Galleries Association of Nigeria (AGAN) brought together twenty four galleries including one from Benin Republic and another from Togo displayed works in painting, print, textile, drawing, sculpture, photography, mixed media, bead and leather works against the thirty one present last year.
This year’s expo, which is the first to be witnessed by a serving Minister since its inception in 2008 ends today and will not feature the regular workshop and lecture sessions on topical issues.