By Evelyn Osagie and Faith Uwaifo
With the theme “Celebration of‘my dream gallery”, the Society of Nigerian Artists (SNA) is positioning the art to compete with other sectors in the economy. With a mind of bringing the gallery to the public, SNA has partnered with the hospitality industry.
It held its third arts exhibition for the year in collaboration with the Lagos Continental Hotel.
The exhibition was aimed at opening a new chapter and interpretation into the business of arts in the history of SNA. The event, which on November 9 and will run till January 9, 2023, featured works by over 40 SNA Lagos members, including Chief Nike Monica Okundaye and Tola Wewe.
It had in attendance some dignitaries, including Oba Alayemore Adedapo Aderemi (The Olojudo of Ido-Osun); Chief Okundaye; the Managing Director of Lagos Continental Hotel, Mr. Karl Hala; the French Ambassador to Nigeria Emmanuelle Blatmann and the Cultural Attaché for Brazil Consulate in Lagos, Mr. Adeniro Osubaremoro.
Speaking about the reason for the exhibition and the partnership of Lagos Continental Hotel, SNA Lagos State chapter chair, Mr Kolawole Olojo Kososko stated that the collaboration was meant to give the members of the association new exposure into the world of business, hospitality and tourism.
He said: ”There is no limit to the definition of art. We are breaking the boundaries every day in art. Art is becoming a universal language. We have people with different tendencies, speaking new languages with our creativity and our artworks.”
On her part, SNA Lagos Vice Chairman, Ayoola Omovo, said the move was to make the arts compete with other sectors by bringing the gallery to the public; thereby making exhibitions much more comfortable. The aim, she said, “was also to attract tourist patronage which is the reason for the choice of collaboration with the Lagos Continental Hotel.”
She said: “We are trying to pull down the barrier of just having exhibitions in galleries alone. Those who are lodged in or visit the hotel will see arts and the Nigerian stories being told by Nigerian artists.”
For Oba Alayemore, who conferred chieftaincy titles on Blatmann and Hala, “Art is just like football a universal language”.
Blatmann, excited by the gesture, said it was a pleasant surprise to her. On the French collaboration with Nigeria for promoting Nigerian traditions through arts and culture, she stated: “I feel humbled to be dubbed with such a position of high esteem. Nigeria has so much talent. France is a strong supporter of culture and artists, especially the young ones. It is part of our foreign policy and diplomacy.”
On the partnership, Hala said the hotel had always had a knack for creating stories of arts.
The exhibiting artists are Olojo, Omovo, Damola Adepoju, Niyi Ogunkunle, Andrew Akinbodewa, Tabitha Odigili, Kayode Ejioye, Fashakin Michael, Late Olotu, Abdullahi Haliru, Hodonu Nathaniel, Akintayo Eunice, Pelumi Kamorudeen, Mufu Onifade, Eunice Akintayo, Shared Adelakun, Orija Gbadegeshin, Debass Adetoro, Odofin Ernest, Ojo Olaniyi, Lekan Adeyemi , Smart Owie, Olusegun Savage, Obi Emmanuel, Kola Opadiran, Daniel Ajayi, Ganiyu Isa, Bola Joseph, Ibraheed Idowu, John Onobrakpeya, Kunle Adeyemi, Biodun Ladipo, Dotun Alabi, Animu Oborien, Toyin Alade, Taiwo George Taylor, Jeje Omotunde, Bello Adedoyin, Kayode Ejioye and Thomas Ukueduan
