FOR some months now, the visual art sector has been quiet. Activities have been slowed down. It seems a lot of galleries and artists are on vacation. With only a few shows here and there, the ever bubbling and active sector is experiencing moments of lull in activities. It is not just that artists are on holidays, it is just that many of them have chosen to keep busy in their studios. The reason for this is not far to fathom.
As Christmas and end of year approach, artists have chosen to keep painting, sculpting and producing all sorts of art pieces to be able to have quite enough for the end of year bumper shows. As the artists keep on the heat, galleries are also ready waiting to host and be part of the bumper that will ensue.
For instance, apart from the three-man show titled embodiment where he was involved last month, Abraham Uyovbisere, master painter and multi-colourist artist is busy producing more works. He says he will surprise the art world with the largest assemblage of works any moment from now. “I am very busy now”, he’d always say each time he is asked to buckle up.
“I want to present many works, to make the solo show not just momentous and rich but plentiful and more colourful than ever before”. Also at the Universal Studios of Art (USA), Iganmu, Lagos, artists are busy knocking woods and metals together for the yuletide shows. There, it is always good to watch artists handle metals, irons, fibre glasses, woods to form different shades and shapes of sculptures. It is there one is privileged to watch first hand how most art pieces are processed and handled to produce metal works, masquerades, images, bronzes, crafts and so on. They too are wired for the Christmas season. As at now, the studios are littered with finished works of different forms and styles for exhibitions. The works are more colourful than ever before.
In-between however, Art-tru, an organization run by Ini Dan put together an award giving ceremony. It was a moment when artists, art patrons, promoters and galleries were given award. Held a few weeks ago, Ini used the occasion to compensate the people involved with different categories of awards. For him, it is good to reward those who have been doing their best to ensure the sector keeps afloat, keeps being relevant.
Just yesterday, as the owner of Adam and Eve, Mrs Modupe Ogunlesi turned 70. Some prominent Nigerian artists were occasioned to do a life drawing of her. The portraiture drawing was done by Osagie Osazuwa, Duke Asidere, Lekan Onabanjo, Olu Ajayi and Wallace Ejoh. It was a beautiful show. It was glamorous. It was good to see these masters do the portrait of one Nigeria’s most glamorous ladies. Ogunlesi runs one of the busiest, and richest departmental and gifts stores in these parts.
So, with these two outstanding shows, and more to come, the sector is gradually coming back to life. As artists gear up for the big shows at yuletide, art patrons and others are also in the mood to welcome the season. Art is life. For artists, life without art pieces is totally incomplete.