Nigerian art seen through women’s eyes
The exhibition entitled ‘50 Years Ahead; Through the Eyes of Nigerian Women’, which had previously held in Lagos will be showcased for Abuja art lovers. In collaborative efforts between the Hilton and the African Artists’ Foundation (AAF), selected works of artists such as Aisha Augie-Kuta, Zemaye Okediji, Unoma Giese, Priscilla Nzimiro, Lucy Azubuike and Taiye […]
The exhibition entitled ‘50 Years Ahead; Through the Eyes of Nigerian Women’, which had previously held in Lagos will be showcased for Abuja art lovers.
In collaborative efforts between the Hilton and the African Artists’ Foundation (AAF), selected works of artists such as Aisha Augie-Kuta, Zemaye Okediji, Unoma Giese, Priscilla Nzimiro, Lucy Azubuike and Taiye Idahor from an open call for participants were displayed. These were under the genres of Photography, Sculpture, Video art, New Media and Paintings in interpreting the theme.
According to the AAF, “this exhibition comes as part of her efforts to nurture and promote women artists in Nigeria, giving them an equal opportunity to express their creativity, with the underlying belief that a society cannot develop if its women are not developed.”
In his remarks on the exhibition, Transcorp Hilton’s General Manager, Andre Herrenschmidt said “‘50 Years Ahead, Through the Eyes of Nigerian Women’ is an exhibition that reinforces the need to recognize the views of our women in the quest to develop our societies. Women need platforms, the type provided by this exhibition, to get more visibility within art history and practice.”
For Abuja-based artist, Lucy Azubike, it is a great step forward that such a recognition is being given to female artists. “I am very glad that women are being recognised and celebrated; especially those in the arts. An initiative such as this should be improved upon, embraced and encouraged to grow beyond this level as it will give us more exposures and opportunities,” she said.
She described some of her works thus: ‘My rom with a view’ is a video art where my performance in the street depicts the courage of today woman. The woman becomes what she wants; has a voice and is determined to be happy against all odds. ‘With love from Africa’ is one of my tree forms where a battered face is shown with a wide smiling face and a flower. To me, the African woman will conquer all with love.
The sight of the tree which provoked ‘No more handicapped’ was a unique encounter for the artist. “When I saw this tree, what came to my mind was ‘hey she is handicapped’. But on a second thought, I said no, she is no more handicapped! Today women have more choices than women in the past. Women now go to school they are allowed to offer any professional course of their choice unlike when women were only given a choice between nursing, home management and teaching. Now most women can have a say in what concerns them unlike before when almost everything is dictated to them saying ‘a woman should be seen not heard’. They are also active in politics. For instance, the ministers of information, Prof. Dora Akunyili and the EFCC boss are women. So also are Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Prof. Ndi Okereke-Onyiuke and host of other women who are also mothers!”