When NGA partnered ABU for art sake

For the first time since it began its art fair, the National Gallery of Arts, (NGA) collaborated with an institution, and this time with the Fine Art Department of the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. The event which held at the NAF Club Kaduna featured works of lecturers alongside those of their students and some of […]

For the first time since it began its art fair, the National Gallery of Arts, (NGA) collaborated with an institution, and this time with the Fine Art Department of the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. The event which held at the NAF Club Kaduna featured works of lecturers alongside those of their students and some of Nigeria’s masters who were trained in the institution.

For many art enthusiasts, at the art fair themed, ‘Art and design as foundation for ideas and knowledge’ organized by the NGA, it was their first time of seeing a work as old as 1969. 

The event which has been on for the week was a display of works of the masters and those of aspiring masters as students and lecturers of Zaria’s art school showed what stuff they are made of. 

It was impossible not to immediately engage with the works upon stepping into the exhibition hall. From the facial expressions of the sculptures, to the abstract pieces, the installation, mixed media works, landscape and still life pieces among others, the fact that Nigeria is a country rich in cultural diversity with immensely talented minds, was once again glaring.

The appreciation of the works was even more profound as guests went round taking them in, one at a time, in an almost one-on-one conversation-like manner. They played out in their heads how anyone like the MFA sculpture student, Musa Azaido, could for instance, repurpose mesh – commonly used to build chicken house or as barriers to fence off intruders – by constructing it into the near life size feminine figure on display. 

This year’s outing, according to the Director General of the NGA, Mr. Abudullahi Muku, is in line with the change mantra which is in a bid to diversify the economy and explore other revenue sources to augment the oil sector. The theme was selected to address the change initiative of the present government. 

In previous editions, the NGA had exhibited only in-house works of the gallery. Muku explained the reason for the change this time around. 

He said, “We collaborated with one of Nigeria’s oldest art schools. We’re testing this for the first time and are considering going on to the other geopolitical zones to replicate this, beginning with the south east at the Institute of Management Technology (IMT) Enugu, later this year.” He said the idea is to sell the works as well as open markets for the artists, asides also creating art appreciation.  He said the exhibition will also expand the frontiers of visual arts, which will in the future involve participation from artists from the states. 

On whether the school’s recent celebration of its Diamond Jubilee played a role, in the decision to collaborate with them, he said, it was while he was at the celebration that the idea came to collaborate with them. 

The head of the Fine Art department, Dr. Gambo Duniya described the event as a fallout out of the department’s Diamond Jubilee which held earlier in the year. 

Duniya said, “We wanted to show glimpses of our whole collection – works of current students and staff who exhibited no less than 64 works. What we did is form the collection of works exhibited over the 60-year period we have also taken samples of those works. The works are also a historical articulation of what has transpired since the Zaria art school began.” 

Rahila Joseph, one of the two final year female Painting students of the department almost pulled out of the exhibition after seeing what kind of works her lecturers were exhibiting. Somehow, by error or providence her work, ‘Kinsmen’ ended up beside the work of the celebrated artist, late Gani Oduntokun.

Rahila, a female participant said, “I felt my work wasn’t up to standard to exhibit among the pros. But seeing it hung up, I am very happy I didn’t pull out. 

Dr. Wesley Okachi said his untitled piece was his most challenging. He explained the concept behind the work.  

Okachi said, “When I conceived the idea, frustration is what I had in mind regarding our leadership and where it has taken Nigeria to, today. A woman’s hands are handcuffed behind her with her face expressing her bitterness. She was surrounded by three others, representing the three major ethnic groups. There is a confused-looking young boy in the background not knowing which way to turn – in the woman’s direction or in that of the three figures. 

“I used woman because of her nature and the popular tag, ‘Mama Africa.’ Also the woman is a better organiser and has more skills bringing people together.” 

Anna Waziri, the second final year Painting student shared her thoughts on the works even though she missed the chance to showcase hers. 

“This is the biggest exhibition I have seen since I entered university. It’s very interesting for me and also a word out to us aspiring professional artists. I liked the sculptures and found them the mopst engaging, especially the one made from mesh.

On things she’s taking away from the exhibition she said, “I would like to apply to my own works intricacies and suspense that I see in some of the works so that it provokes more in depth thoughts on the part of viewers.”

The fair ends today.