By Ozolua Uhakheme,
Assistant Editor (Arts)
No fewer than 1,000 artworks by 300 African artists will be on display at the maiden edition of Impart Artists Fair holding from October 25 to 27 at Eko Atlantic, Victoria Island, Lagos.
The three-day event, organised by LASMARA, with the theme Art meets tech, will attract about 6,000 international and local art collectors, members of the art community, students and art enthusiasts.
According to the founder, Director of Lasmara, Hana Omilani, the fair is being organised to increase awareness on the African arts and culture sector, as well as to improve African art recognition in the global market. “This is where technology plays a vital factor and we believe that through technology we can reach a larger audience – the audience that is needed to create volume in the transaction of African Art.
“What’s important to understand is that the fair is a way to officially launch Impart the platform,” she further revealed.
“Impart is a new initiative – a platform to promote African artists and the Impart Artists Fair – is just one of the series of initiatives. Impart Artist Fair uses technology to promote art, this is why the maiden edition of Impart is themed Art meets tech.”
“We have ongoing plans to empower artists through this platform, as we are actively involved in social, non-profit activities, such as community building, portfolio management, talks, artists’ workshops, residency programmes and special workshops for women, to help increase the representation of female artists in the field,” she said.
She disclosed that the vetting for the fair was very thorough by the selection committee of 11 art professionals and collectors.
Other activities, during the fair, are a digital art showcase (using ground-breaking virtual reality and augmented reality technologies), workshops with artists and professionals, and exclusive collectors’ events, among others.
With the support of Templars (a law firm), the Consulate of the United States in Lagos, 9Mobile, Mirinda Apple, AXA Mansard and Iron Capital, the fair will offer artists a platform to exhibit themselves via the use of interactive and immersive technology.
She added: “You cannot afford to miss this experience. So, tell a friend to tell a friend to tell another friend. Come and enjoy the best that African art has to offer. Interact with your favourite artists, purchase their artworks, meet new people and make new connections while taking pictures and enjoying lovely music. It will be a very exciting and stimulating experience.
“Our database of artists is constantly expanding, both well-established and up-and-coming, but always exciting and original. Our speciality is African but our interests are global, and we work with clients, galleries and art houses all over the world.
“In addition to sourcing and acquiring artworks, we can also assist with the liquidation of art collections, resale of artworks, art handling, administration of loans and consignments, shipping and storage, and much more. We look forward to working with an expanding array of Nigerian and international clients, to meet their requirements while increasing awareness of African art and African artists across the globe.”
Lasmara is an independent art consultancy, specialising in contemporary African art. It offers a wide range of specialist art services, from commissioning artists and sourcing works to creating strategies for investment and exhibition.
Lasmara sees every client, like every piece of art as unique. So, it collaborates very closely with clients to understand their individual aesthetic and requirements, and to provide personally tailored solutions.
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